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Overexpression of LeNHX4 improved yield, fruit quality and salt tolerance in tomato plants (Solanum lycopersicum L.)

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Abstract

The function of the tomato K+, Na+/H+ antiporter LeNHX4 has been analyzed using 35S-driven gene construct for overexpressing a histagged LeNHX4 protein in Solanum lycopersicum L. Compared to wild-type plants, the expression of LeNHX4 was enhanced in most of plants transformed with a gene construct for LeNHX4 overexpression although some plants showed a decreased LeNHX4 expression. Overexpression of LeNHX4 was associated to an increased fruit size while silencing of this gene was related to a decreased fruit size. We have investigated the effect of LeNHX4 overexpression on fruit production and quality and we have also evaluated salt tolerance in two different overexpression lines by measuring proline, protein and glucose concentrations in tomato leaves grown either under control (0 mM NaCl) or saline (125 mM NaCl) conditions. Plants overexpressing LeNHX4 showed a higher amount of fruits than WT plants and accumulated higher contents of sugars and cations (Na+ and K+). The application of 125 mM NaCl, affected negatively fruit production and quality of WT plants. However the transgenic lines overexpressing LeNXH4 increased fruit quality and yield. In relation to salt tolerance, overexpression lines showed higher levels of leaf proline, glucose and proteins under NaCl treatment. The overexpression of LeNHX4 in tomato plants, improved salinity tolerance and increased fruit yield and quality under both normal and salinity stress conditions.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by Grants from Consejería de Economía, Innovación, Ciencia y Empresa, Junta de Andalucía, Spain (CVI-7558 to MPRR), Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness and Agencia Estatal de Investigación (BIO2015-65056-P, BIO2016-81957-REDT/AEI and Programa I-COOPB+2013 Ref. COOPB20053). National Centre for Scientific and Technical Research and Minister for Higher Education, Scientific Research and Executive Training (Morocco).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of OLMAN, Multidisciplinary Faculty, Mohammed First University, 62700, Nador, Morocco

    Mostapha Maach, Mourad Baghour & Mustapha Akodad

  2. Department of Biochemistry and Molecular and Cellular Biology of Plants, Estación Experimental del Zaidín, CSIC, Calle Profesor Albareda, 1, 18008, Granada, Spain

    Francisco Javier Gálvez, María Elena Sánchez, María Nieves Aranda, Kees Venema & María Pilar Rodríguez-Rosales

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  1. Mostapha Maach
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  8. María Pilar Rodríguez-Rosales
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Contributions

Study concepts: MB, KV, MPRR. Study design: MB, KV, MPRR. Literature research: MM, MB, MPRR. Experimental studies: MM, FJG, MES, MNA. Data analysis/interpretation: MM, MB, MA, FJG, KV, MPRR. Statistical analysis: MM, MB. Manuscript preparation: MM, MB, MPRR. Manuscript revision: MB, MPRR.

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Maach, M., Baghour, M., Akodad, M. et al. Overexpression of LeNHX4 improved yield, fruit quality and salt tolerance in tomato plants (Solanum lycopersicum L.). Mol Biol Rep 47, 4145–4153 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11033-020-05499-z

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