Effect of LeERF1 and LeERF2 overexpression in the response to salinity of young tomato (Solanumlycopersicum cv. Micro-Tom) seedlings

Hu, Nan; Tang, Ning; Yan, Fang; Bouzayen, Mondher; Li, Zhengguo

doi:10.1007/s11738-014-1545-5

Original Paper
Published: 01 May 2014

Effect of LeERF1 and LeERF2 overexpression in the response to salinity of young tomato (Solanumlycopersicum cv. Micro-Tom) seedlings

Nan Hu¹,
Ning Tang¹,
Fang Yan¹,
Mondher Bouzayen^2,3 &
Zhengguo Li¹

Acta Physiologiae Plantarum volume 36, pages 1703–1712 (2014)Cite this article

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Abstract

Ethylene responsive factors (ERFs) are important transcriptional regulators involved in plant responses to abiotic stress. LeERF1 and LeERF2, two members of the ERF family in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum), have previously been cloned. In this study, we investigated the salt-stress tolerance of transgenic tomato overexpressing LeERF1 and LeERF2. The transgenic lines had longer roots than wild-type (WT) plants under salt stress conditions. Furthermore, we examined physiological and biochemical indexes in the plants and found that overexpression of LeERF1 and LeERF2 enhanced the release of chlorophyll and free proline, but decreased the malondialdehyde contents of the plants. Transgenic tomato displayed higher superoxide dismutase and guaiacol peroxidase activity than WT tomato under high salinity conditions. Moreover, quantitative RT-PCR analysis revealed that the expression levels of salt stress-related genes, including TAS14, HVA22, LHA1, PR5, and RBOHC, which were upregulated in the transgenic plants. Therefore, overexpression of LeERF1 and LeERF2 positively modulates the ethylene-mediated response to salt stress in tomato.

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Acknowledgments

This study was partly funded by the Universitéde Toulouse, INP-ENSA Toulouse, Génomiqueet Biotechnologie des Fruits of France. The authors thank the China Scholarship Council (CSC) for supporting N.H.

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Authors and Affiliations

Key Laboratory of Functional Gene and New Regulation Technologies Under Chongqing Municipal Education Commission, Genetic Engineering Research Center, School of Life Sciences, Chongqing University, Chongqing, 400030, China
Nan Hu, Ning Tang, Fang Yan & Zhengguo Li
INP-ENSA Toulouse, Génomique et Biotechnologie des Fruits, Université de Toulouse, Avenue de l’Agrobiopole, BP 32607, Castanet-Tolosan, 31326, France
Mondher Bouzayen
INRA, UMR990 Génomique et Biotechnologie des Fruits, Chemin de Borde Rouge, Castanet-Tolosan, 31326, France
Mondher Bouzayen

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Nan Hu
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Ning Tang
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Fang Yan
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Mondher Bouzayen
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Zhengguo Li
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Correspondence to Zhengguo Li.

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Communicated by R. Aroca.

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Hu, N., Tang, N., Yan, F. et al. Effect of LeERF1 and LeERF2 overexpression in the response to salinity of young tomato (Solanumlycopersicum cv. Micro-Tom) seedlings. Acta Physiol Plant 36, 1703–1712 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11738-014-1545-5

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Received: 18 December 2013
Revised: 28 February 2014
Accepted: 16 April 2014
Published: 01 May 2014
Issue Date: July 2014
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11738-014-1545-5

Keywords

LeERF1
LeERF2
Salt tolerance
Stress-regulated genes
Transgenic tomato