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The NIP Genes in Sugar Beet: Underlying Roles in Silicon Uptake and Growth Improvement

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Abstract

Silicon (Si) can stimulate plant growth and stress resistance. This study aimed at elucidating the physiological responses and molecular characterization of different NIP (nodulin 26-like intrinsic protein) genes in sugar beet. The addition of exogenous Si increased plant biomass and Si concentration in the root and shoot, implying that increased Si uptake has beneficial effects on sugar beet. The quantitative gene expression analysis showed a significant upregulation of the BvNIP5–1 gene in roots, while the BvNIP1–1, BvNIP6–1, BvNIP7–1, and BvNIP-type were unchanged following Si supplementation. It suggests that BvNIP5–1 is one of the genes localized in the plasma membrane responsible for Si uptake in sugar beet. Besides, the BvNIP5–1 gene contained promoter, transcription start site, transcription binding site, and PolyA at 800 bp, 528 bp, 557 bp, and 1637 bp, respectively. The MEME results further revealed the association of three motifs related to major intrinsic protein (MIP). In the phylogenetic tree, the BvNIP5–1 showed a close association with CqNIP5–1, AnNIP2–1 and SoNIP5–1. Interactome analysis showed functional partnership of aquaporin SIP1–2 and SIP2–1 genes with NIP genes in sugar beet. In addition, BvNIP5–1 possessed close association with several functional partners (BOR1, BOR1, NodGS, SIP1A, ACR3) and co-expressed genes (i.e., AtNIP5–1, AtBOR1, AtNodGS, AtSIP1A, AtACR3) of Arabidopsis thaliana mainly responsible for boron, arsenite, and aquaporin transport activity. NIP promoters revealed cis-regulatory elements linked to auxin, salicylic acid, and methyl jasmonate-responsive factors. These findings may advance our understanding of Si transporters underlying growth and stress tolerance in sugar beet.

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Acknowledgements

We are grateful to the University of Rajshahi, Bangladesh.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Grassland and Forage Division, National Institute of Animal Science, Rural Development Administration, Cheonan, 31000, Republic of Korea

    Md Atikur Rahman & Ki-Won Lee

  2. Molecular Plant Physiology Laboratory, Department of Botany, University of Rajshahi, Rajshahi, 6205, Bangladesh

    AFM Mohabubul Haque & Ahmad Humayan Kabir

  3. Department of Sustainable Crop Production, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Milan, Italy

    Mst Salma Akther & Monirul Islam

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  1. Md Atikur Rahman
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  2. AFM Mohabubul Haque
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  4. Monirul Islam
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Contributions

MAR performed ICP-MS and qPCR analysis. AFMMH and MI performed bioinformatics analysis. MSA performed plant phenotype experiments. KL edited the manuscript. AHK prepared the draft manuscript and supervised the whole work.

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Correspondence to Ahmad Humayan Kabir.

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Rahman, M.A., Haque, A.M., Akther, M.S. et al. The NIP Genes in Sugar Beet: Underlying Roles in Silicon Uptake and Growth Improvement. Silicon 14, 3551–3562 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12633-021-01133-0

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