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Expression of the tomato WRKY gene, SlWRKY23, alters root sensitivity to ethylene, auxin and JA and affects aerial architecture in transgenic Arabidopsis

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Abstract

WRKY transcription factors (TFs) are a large plant-specific family of TFs that govern development and biotic/abiotic stress responses in plants. We have identified SlWRKY23 as a gene primarily expressed in roots. SlWRKY23 encodes a protein of 320 amino acids that functions as a transcriptional activator. It is transcriptionally up-regulated by ethylene, BAP and salicylic acid treatment but suppressed by IAA. Expression of SlWRKY23 in transgenic Arabidopsis affects sensitivity of roots to ethylene, JA and auxin with transgenic plants showing hypersensitivity to ethylene, JA and auxin-mediated primary root growth inhibition. This hypersensitivity is correlated with higher expression of ERF1 and ARF5 that mediate responses to these hormones. SlWRKY23 expression also affects aerial growth with transgenic plants showing greater number of leaves but smaller rosettes. Flowering time is reduced in transgenic lines and these plants also show a greater number of inflorescence branches, siliques and seeds. The siliques are longer and compactly packed with seeds but seeds are smaller in size. Root biomass shows a 25% decrease in transgenic SlWRKY23 Arabidopsis plants at harvest compared with controls. The studies show that SlWRKY23 regulates plant growth possibly through modulation of genes controlling hormone responses.

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Acknowledgements

We are thankful to the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), India for financial support to Deepika Singh and Pratima Debnath. The work was supported by CSIR, India under the project BSC0204 and MLP26. Integral Manuscript Communication No: IU/R&D/2019-MCN000678 and NBRI Publication No. CSIR-NBRI_MS/2020/02/06.

Funding

This study was funded by CSIR, India under the Projects BSC0204 and MLP26. NBRI Publication No. CSIR-NBRI_MS/2020/02/06.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Plant Gene Expression Lab, CSIR-National Botanical Research Institute, Lucknow, 226001, India

    Deepika Singh, Pratima Debnath, Aniruddha P. Sane & Vidhu A. Sane

  2. Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, 201002, India

    Pratima Debnath, Aniruddha P. Sane & Vidhu A. Sane

  3. Integral University, Kursi Road, Lucknow, 226026, India

    Deepika Singh &  Roohi

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  1. Deepika Singh
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  2. Pratima Debnath
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  4. Aniruddha P. Sane
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  5. Vidhu A. Sane
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Contributions

VAS and APs conceptualized and designed the experiments, DS and PD carried out the experiments. VAS, APS, Roohi analysed the data. APS and VAS wrote the manuscript. All authors have read and approved the final manuscript.

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Correspondence to Vidhu A. Sane.

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Singh, D., Debnath, P., Roohi et al. Expression of the tomato WRKY gene, SlWRKY23, alters root sensitivity to ethylene, auxin and JA and affects aerial architecture in transgenic Arabidopsis. Physiol Mol Biol Plants 26, 1187–1199 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12298-020-00820-3

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