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Overexpression of a predominantly root-expressed NAC transcription factor in wheat roots enhances root length, biomass and drought tolerance

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Abstract

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TaRNAC1 is a constitutively and predominantly root-expressed NAC transcription factor. TaRNAC1 overexpression in wheat roots confers increased root length, biomass and drought tolerance and improved grain yield under water limitation.

Abstract

A large and deep root system is an important trait for yield sustainability of dryland cereal crops in drought-prone environments. This study investigated the role of a predominantly root-expressed NAC transcription factor from wheat (TaRNAC1) in the root growth. Expression analysis showed that TaRNAC1 was a constitutively expressed gene with high level expression in the roots and was not drought-upregulated. Overexpression of TaRNAC1 in wheat using a predominantly root-expressed promoter resulted in increased root length and biomass observed at the early growth stage and a marked increase in the maturity root biomass with dry root weight of > 70% higher than that of the wild type plants. Analysis of some root growth-related genes revealed that the expression level of GA3-ox2, which encodes GIBBERELLIN 3-OXIDASE catalysing the conversion of inactive gibberellin (GA) to active GA, was elevated in the roots of transgenic wheat. TaRNAC1 overexpressing transgenic wheat showed more dehydration tolerance under polyethylene glycol (PEG) treatment and produced more aboveground biomass and grain under water-limited conditions than the wild type plants. These data suggest that TaRNAC1 may play a role in root growth and be used as a molecular tool for potential enlargement of root system in wheat.

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Abbreviations

GA:

Gibberellin

GFP:

Green fluorescent protein

PEG:

Polyethylene glycol

RFP:

Red fluorescent protein

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Acknowledgements

This work is supported by CSIRO and the scholarship (D.C.) from China Scholarship Council (CSC). Authors are grateful to Terese Richardson, Smitha Louis and Dhara Bhatt for production of transgenic wheat, Janneke Drenth for her excellent technical assistance and Terry Grant for maintenance of plant growth facilities.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Agronomy, Northwest Agriculture and Forestry University, Yangling, Shaanxi, 712100, People’s Republic of China

    Dandan Chen & Shoucheng Chai

  2. CSIRO Agriculture and Food, 306 Carmody Rd., St Lucia, QLD, 4067, Australia

    Dandan Chen, C. Lynne McIntyre & Gang-Ping Xue

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  1. Dandan Chen
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  2. Shoucheng Chai
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  3. C. Lynne McIntyre
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  4. Gang-Ping Xue
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Correspondence to Shoucheng Chai or Gang-Ping Xue.

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Communicated by Prakash Lakshmanan.

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Chen, D., Chai, S., McIntyre, C.L. et al. Overexpression of a predominantly root-expressed NAC transcription factor in wheat roots enhances root length, biomass and drought tolerance. Plant Cell Rep 37, 225–237 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00299-017-2224-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00299-017-2224-y

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