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Overexpression of a Medicago truncatula stress-associated protein gene (MtSAP1) leads to nitric oxide accumulation and confers osmotic and salt stress tolerance in transgenic tobacco

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Abstract

The impact of Medicago truncatula stress-associated protein gene (MtSAP1) overexpression has been investigated in Nicotiana tabacum transgenic seedlings. Under optimal conditions, transgenic lines overexpressing MtSAP1 revealed better plant development and higher chlorophyll content as compared to wild type seedlings. Interestingly, transgenic lines showed a stronger accumulation of nitric oxide (NO), a signaling molecule involved in growth and development processes. This NO production seemed to be partially nitrate reductase dependent. Due to the fact that NO has been also reported to play a role in tolerance acquisition of plants to abiotic stresses, the responses of MtSAP1 overexpressors to osmotic and salt stress have been studied. Compared to the wild type, transgenic lines were less affected in their growth and development. Moreover, NO content in MtSAP1 overexpressors was always higher than that detected in wild seedlings under stress conditions. It seems that this better tolerance induced by MtSAP1 overexpression could be associated with this higher NO production that would enable seedlings to reach a high protection level to prepare them to cope with abiotic stresses.

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Abbreviations

cPTIO:

2-(4-Carboxy-phenyl)-4,4,5,5-tetramethylimidazoline-1-oxyl-3-oxide

DAF-2DA:

4,5-Diaminofluorescein diacetate

MS:

Murashige and Skoog

NO:

Nitric oxide

NR:

Nitrate reductase

ROS:

Reactive oxygen species

SAP:

Stress associated protein

TLs:

Transgenic lines

WT:

Wild type

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Acknowledgments

The authors are grateful to Mr Michael Jones for English language correction. Funding was provided by QUALISEM contract with Region Pays de la Loire, France. The postdoctoral fellowship of Aurélie Charrier is supported by a grant from Angers University.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Angers, UMR 1345 Research Institute of Horticulture and Seeds (INRA, Agrocampus-Ouest, University of Angers), SFR 4207 Quasav, 2 Bd Lavoisier, 49045, Angers cedex, France

    Aurélie Charrier, Elisabeth Planchet, Delphine Cerveau, Christine Gimeno-Gilles, Isabelle Verdu & Anis M. Limami

  2. University of Angers, UMR CNRS 6214 - UMR INSERM 1083, 2 rue Haute de Reculée, 49045, Angers cedex, France

    Eric Lelièvre

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  1. Aurélie Charrier
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  2. Elisabeth Planchet
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  3. Delphine Cerveau
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  4. Christine Gimeno-Gilles
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  5. Isabelle Verdu
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Correspondence to Elisabeth Planchet.

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Charrier, A., Planchet, E., Cerveau, D. et al. Overexpression of a Medicago truncatula stress-associated protein gene (MtSAP1) leads to nitric oxide accumulation and confers osmotic and salt stress tolerance in transgenic tobacco. Planta 236, 567–577 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00425-012-1635-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00425-012-1635-9

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