Spatio-temporal dynamics of phytohormones in the tomato graft healing process

Graft healing involves a series of cytological and molecular events including wound responses, callus formation and vascular bundle remodelling. Hormones are important signalling molecules regulating plant development and responses to environmental stimuli. However,the detailed dynamics of phytohormones in graft healing remain elusive. In this research, internodes above and below the graft site were harvested from 0 to 168 h after grafting(HAG), and liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry(LC-MS/MS) was used to determinate jasmonic acid, auxin, cytokinin, ethylene, salicylic acid, abscisic acid and gibberellin levels during the graft healing process. Uniform manifold approximation and projection(UMAP) and k-means analyses were performed to explore hormone spatio-temporal dynamics. We found the stage-specific and asymmetric accumulation of phytohormones in the tomato graft healing process. At the early healing stage(before vascular bundle reconnection), IAA, cZ, ABA, JA and SA mainly accumulated above the graft site, while tZ and ACC mainly accumulated below the graft site. MEIAA, ICAld and IP mainly accumulated at the later stage. Comminated with the healing process, we suggested that JA is mainly involved in wound responses, IAA is beneficial to the formation of callus and vascular cell development, tZ promotes cell division, and IP is linked to vascular bundle remodelling. In addition, expression of JA-related genes SlMYC2 and SlJAZ2, IAA-related gene SlIAA1, tZ-related genes SlHP2 and SlRR8, and IP-related gene SlRR9 correlated with hormone accumulation. The findings provide important information about the hormones and genes involved in the tomato graft healing process.

Multi-omics analysis reveals the pivotal role of phytohormone homeostasis in regulating maize grain water content

Grain water content(GWC)is a key determinant for mechanical harvesting of maize(Zea mays).In our previous research,we identified a quantitative trait locus,qGWC1,associated with GWC in maize.Here,we examined near-isogenic lines(NILs)NILL and NILH that differed at the qGWC1 locus.Lower GWC in NILL was primarily attributed to reduced grain water weight(GWW)and smaller fresh grain size,rather than the accumulation of dry matter.The difference in GWC between the NILs became more pronounced approximately 35 d after pollination(DAP),arising from a faster dehydration rate in NILL.Through an integrated analysis of the transcriptome,proteome,and metabolome,coupled with an examination of hormones and their derivatives,we detected a marked decrease in JA,along with an increase in cytokinin,storage forms of IAA(IAA-Glu,IAA-ASP),and IAA precursor IPA in immature NILL kernels.During kernel development,genes associated with sucrose synthases,starch biosynthesis,and zein production in NILL,exhibited an initial up-regulation followed by a gradual down-regulation,compared to those in NILH.This discovery highlights the crucial role of phytohormone homeostasis and genes related to kernel development in balancing GWC and dry matter accumulation in maize kernels.

Brassinosteroids Mediate Endogenous Phytohormone Metabolism to Alleviate High Temperature Injury at Panicle Initiation Stage in Rice

High temperatures cause physiological and biochemical changes and significantly affect young panicle development of rice(Oryza sativa L.).Brassinosteroids play important roles in enhancing crop stress resistance.In this study,we subjected rice cultivars Huanghuazhan(heat-resistant)and IR36(heat-sensitive)to high temperature(HT,40 oC)or normal temperature(NT,33 oC)for 7 d at the panicle initiation stage,in conjunction with application of 24-epibrassinolide[EBR,a synthetic brassinolide(BR)]or brassinazole(BRZ,a BR biosynthesis inhibitor)at the beginning of the treatments.HT exacerbated spikelet degeneration and inhibited young panicle growth,which were partially prevented by EBR application,while BRZ application aggravated the reduction in spikelet number.HT decreased the contents of BR,active cytokinins(aCTK),active gibberellins(aGA)and indole-3-acetic acid(IAA),but increased the content of abscisic acid(ABA)in young panicles.The activities of key enzymes involved in sucrose hydrolysis,glycolysis and the tricarboxylic acid cycle in young panicles were decreased with the change of endogenous hormone levels under HT.In addition,the contents of H2O2 and malondialdehyde(MDA)were increased and the activities of antioxidant enzymes were decreased in young panicles.Exogenous application of EBR induced the expression of phytohormone biosynthesis-related genes and down-regulated the expression of phytohormone catabolism-related genes to increase the contents of endogenous BR,aCTK,aGA and ABA,thus promoting the decomposition and utilization of sucrose in young panicles,enhancing the activities of superoxide dismutase,catalase and peroxidase,and reducing the accumulation of H2O2 and MDA in young panicles,whereas application of BRZ had the opposite physiological effects.These results showed that brassinosteroids mediate endogenous phytohormone metabolism to alleviate HT injury at the panicle initiation stage in rice.

Effects of Various Phytohormones on Seed Germination and Seedling Growth of Leymus Chinensis

[Objective] To explore the effects of various phytohormones at different concentrations on the seed germination and seedling growth of Leymus Chinensiss （ L. chinensis）. [ Method ] The seeds of two varieties of L. chinensis were respectively treated with four kinds of phytohormone [ gibbereUin （ GA ）, 2,4-D, naphthalene acetic acid and 6-benzyl aminopurine （6-BA） ] for the observation of seed germination. The seedling growth of natural L. chinensis was observed after the seedlings were respectively treated with these phytohormones. [Result] The germination percentage of L. chinensis was promoted by the GAs and 6-BA at low concentration and inhibited by these two kinds of phytohormone at high concentration. Moreover, they promoted the seedling growth of L. chinensis, and the GA3 had better effect. However, the NAA and 2,4-D at any concentration inhibited the seed germination and seedling growth of L. chinensis. [ Conclusion] The various phytohormones have different effects on the seed germination and seedling growth of L. chinensis.

Effect of Phytohormones on Adventitious Bud Differentiation from Bulb Scales of Oriental Lily Test-tube Plantlets

[Objective] The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of differ- ent phytohormones on the adventitious bud differentiation of oriental lily. [Method] The bulb scales of the test-tube plantlets of Tiber, Rodina and Constanta were cul- tured in media supplemented with different cytokinin and auxin at different concen- tration, and then the adventitious buds in each treatment were calculated. [Result] Cytokinins had different influence on the adventitious bud differentiation of the three oriental lily cultivars. Among them, 6-BA had the best effect to induce the adventi- tious bud differentiation from bulb scales of Tiber and Rodina, but there was some difference in the optimal concentration. KT had the best effect to induce the adven- titious bud differentiation of Constanta. The auxins had little influence on the quality of the adventitious bud of the three oriental lily cultivars, but caused some difference in differentiation coefficients. [Conclusion] The most suitable media for the adventi- tious bud differentiation from bulb scales in vitro of Tiber, Rodina and Constanta were MS＋0.2 mg/L 6-BA＋0.2 mg/L 2,4-D, MS＋I.0 mg/L 6-BA＋0.2 mg/L IAA, MS＋ 1.0 mg/L KT＋0.5 mg/L 2,4-D, respectively.

Effects of phosphate solubilization and phytohormone production of Trichoderma asperellum Q1 on promoting cucumber growth under salt stress

Salinity is one of the major abiotic stresses limiting crop growth and yield.This study investigated the underlying mechanisms of Trichoderma asperellum Q1 in promoting cucumber growth under salt stress, including the abilities of the strain to solubilize phosphate and to produce phytohormone.The results showed that T.asperellum Q1 could solubilize inorganic or organic phosphate and the activities of phosphatases and phytase could be detected in the culture supernatant.In hydroponic experiments, the growth of cucumber seedlings was increased in the hydroponic system treated by culture filtrate of strain Q1 with tricalcium phosphate or calcium phytate under salt stress.This strain also exhibited the ability to produce indole acetic acid（IAA）, gibberellic acid（GA） and abscisic acid（ABA） in liquid medium without any inducers.The levels of those three phytohormones in cucumber seedling leaves also increased after inoculated with this strain, along with increased root growth and root activities of the plant.These results demonstrated the mechanisms of T.asperellum Q1 in alleviating the suppression effect of salt stress involving the change of phytohormone levels in cucumber plant and its ability of phosphate solubilization.

Phytohormones and their metabolic engineering for abiotic stress tolerance in crop plants

Abiotic stresses including drought,salinity,heat,cold,flooding,and ultraviolet radiation causes crop losses worldwide.In recent times,preventing these crop losses and producing more food and feed to meet the demands of ever-increasing human populations have gained unprecedented importance.However,the proportion of agricultural lands facing multiple abiotic stresses is expected only to rise under a changing global climate fueled by anthropogenic activities.Identifying the mechanisms developed and deployed by plants to counteract abiotic stresses and maintain their growth and survival under harsh conditions thus holds great significance.Recent investigations have shown that phytohormones,including the classical auxins,cytokinins,ethylene,and gibberellins,and newer members including brassinosteroids,jasmonates,and strigolactones may prove to be important metabolic engineering targets for producing abiotic stress-tolerant crop plants.In this review,we summarize and critically assess the roles that phytohormones play in plant growth and development and abiotic stress tolerance,besides their engineering for conferring abiotic stress tolerance in transgenic crops.We also describe recent successes in identifying the roles of phytohormones under stressful conditions.We conclude by describing the recent progress and future prospects including limitations and challenges of phytohormone engineering for inducing abiotic stress tolerance in crop plants.

Strigolactones interact with other phytohormones to modulate plant root growth and development

Strigolactones(SLs),which are biosynthesized mainly in roots,modulate various aspects of plant growth and development.Here,we review recent research on the role of SLs and their cross-regulation with auxin,cytokinin,and ethylene in the modulation of root growth and development.Under nutrientsufficient conditions,SLs regulate the elongation of primary roots and inhibit adventitious root formation in eudicot plants.SLs promote the elongation of seminal roots and increase the number of adventitious roots in grass plants in the short term,while inhibiting lateral root development in both grass and eudicot plants.The effects of SLs on the elongation of root hairs are variable and depend on plant species,growth conditions,and SL concentration.Nitrogen or phosphate deficiency induces the accumulation of endogenous SLs,modulates root growth and development.Genetic analyses indicate cross-regulation of SLs with auxin,cytokinin,and ethylene in regulation of root growth and development.We discuss the implications of these studies and consider their potential for exploiting the components of SL signaling for the design of crop plants with more efficient soil-resource utilization.

Abiotic Stresses and Phytohormones Regulate Expression of FAD2 Gene in Arabidopsis thaliana

Modification of unsaturated fatty acid （FA） levels has been found to accompany multiple abiotic stress acclimations in many plants. Delta 12 fatty acid desaturase （FAD2） plays a critical role in the synthesis of polyunsaturated FAs in plant cells by converting oleic acid （18：1） to linoleic acid （18：2）. To better understand the relationship between polyunsaturated FAs metabolism and stress adaptation, the expression of FAD2 gene and changes in the FA compositions under various abiotic stresses and phytohormone treatments in Arabidopsis thaliana was investigated in this study. A 1 423-bp promoter of the FAD2 gene was cloned and characterized from Arabidopsis. Several putative hormone- and stress- inducible cis-elements were identified in the cloned promoter, which include salt- and pathogen-inducible GT-1 motifs, low-temperature-responsive MYC element, dehydration-responsive MYB element, and GA signaling related WRKY71OS element. To investigate the fine regulation of FAD2 gene, a recombinant FAD2 promoter-GUS construct was introduced into Arabidopsis plants. Histochemical study showed that the promoter was ubiquitously active and responsive not only to exogenous phytohormones including ABA, 24-eBL, and SA but also to darkness, temperature, salt, and sucrose stresses in Arabidopsis seedlings. Consistent with the expression change, treatments with exogenous 24-eBL, ABA, SA, and NaCl resulted in reduction in polyunsaturated FAs in Arabidopsis seedlings. These findings suggest that the FAD2 gene with a wide variety of putative response elements in its promoter is responsive to multiple phytohormones and abiotic stresses and therefore may play an important role in stress responses of Arabidopsis during plant growth and seed development.

Cloning and Expression Analysis of an AP2/ERF Gene and Its Responses to Phytohormones and Abiotic Stresses in Rice

Ethylene response factors （ERFs） play important roles in response to plant biotic and abiotic stresses. In this study, a gene encoding a putative AP2/ERF domain-containing protein was isolated by screening a SSH cDNA library from rice and designated as Oryza sativa AP2/ERF-like protein （OsAP2LP） gene. OsAP2LP is 1491 bp in length, interrupted by seven introns, and encodes a putative protein of 348 amino acids. Temporal and spatial expression analysis showed that the OsAP2LP gene was preferentially expressed in roots, panicles, mature embryos and seeds in rice. Real-time quantitative PCR analysis indicated that the expression levels of the OsAP2LP gene were increased under the treatments of drought and gibberellin but decreased under the treatments of low temperature, salt, abscisic acid （ABA） and zeatin. Taken together, these results suggest that OsAP2LP might be involved in stress responses, and probably plays roles as a transcription regulator when plants response to cold, salt and drought stresses through ABA and gibberellin pathways.

The regulatory network behind maize seed germination: Effects of temperature, water, phytohormones, and nutrients

Seed germination is the process by which an organism grows from a seed. It requires suitable conditions and environmental factors. Maize is one of the most important crops worldwide. Germination influences both final maize yield and quality. Seed germination is regulated by a complex gene network. It is also influenced by endogenous(phytohormones and nutrients) and exogenous(temperature and water)inputs, involving molecular networks only partly identified to date. This review describes current understanding of the influence of temperature, water, phytohormones, and nutrients in regulating maize seed germination, and indicates knowledge gaps that should be addressed.

Relationship between rooting ability and endogenous phytohormone changes in successive continuous generation cuttings of Buxus sinica var. parvifolia, an endangered woody species in China

The objectives of this study were to investigate the effects of successive continuous generation （SCG） cuttings of Buxus sinica var. parvifolia on the rejuvenation of ortets at the hormone level, detect levels of indoleacetic acid （IAA）, abscisic acid （ABA）, isopentenyladenosine （iPA）, zeatin riboside （ZR） and gibberellin4 （GA4） during the rooting process of different generations by means of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA） technology and statistically analyze the rooting characteristics of cuttings. The results show that, the root systems of subsequent generations （generation 1998, 2000） developed satisfactorily, only a few initial generation （generation 1990, 1994） cuttings rooted and the root growth was inhibited. Around the period of callus formation and root projection through the epidermis, there was a marked, regular variation in the levels of IAA, ABA and GA4 between the initial generations and subsequent generations.

Regulation of phytohormones on root primordium initiation and adventitious root formation in the etiolated shoots of Paeonia suffruticosa'Yinfen Jinlin'

Tree peony is well known and sought after for its large, colorful flowers. Its propagation is via vegetative methods. Mech- nisms of the adventitious rooting and the regulation of rooting processes are the principles and techniques of plant propagation and improvement. Microstructures and fluctuations of phytohormones in the adventitious rooting were studied with the etiolated soft- wood shoots of Paeonia suffkuticosa ＇Yinfen Jinlin＇. There are no pre-primordia in the shoots of the cultivar. Adventitious roots are produced in five stages： shoot selection, primordium initiation, primordium growth, conducting tissue differentiation and root protru- sion. Primordia initiated in the cortex. The contents of the endogenous hormones, IAA, ABA and GA, were 5.842, 0.873 and 1.043 nmol·g^-1 FW on the bases of shoots, respectively. CTKs which included isopentenyl adenine （iPA）, zeatin riboside （ZR） and dihy- drozeatin riboside （DHZR） were 0.949, 0.695 and 2.034 nmol·g^-1 FW, respectively. DHZR is active among CTKs. The ratio of IAA to GA, CTK and ABA clearly increased at the stage of primordium initiation, while they showed low levels at the stages of primor- dium growth. The ratios were restored at the shoot levels at the stage of root protrusion. IBA provoked primordia initiation in the cortex, the vascular cambium, the pith and even in the callus induced on the base of shoots. ]AA levels in the treated shoots increased gradually to its highest level （three times of control） at the stage of conducting tissue differentiation. The ratios of IAA to GA, CTK and ABA clearly decreased at the stage of primordium initiation. The ratio of IAA to ABA is regulated at 10：1.

Characterization of the 19 Novel Cotton FLA Genes and Their Expression Profiling in Fiber Development and in Response to Phytohormones and Salt Stress

Fasciclin-like arabinogalactan proteins(FLAs),a subclass of arabinogalactan proteins(AGPs),are usually involved in cell development in plants.To investigate the expression profiling as well

Regulation of OsPRIOa Promoter Activity by Phytohormone and Pathogen Stimulation in Rice

OsPRIOa is one of the well known pathogenesis-related genes in rice,and is induced by multiple plant hormones and pathogens.However,the underlying transcriptional regulation mechanisms in response to differe nt signals and their crosstalks are still largely unknown.In order to find new players participated in the activation of OsPRIOa,we systematically analyzed the basal expression patterns as well as the expression responses of a 2.5 kb OsPRIOa promoter in rice transgenic plants after phytohormone and pathogen stimulations.In agreement with the native gene expression,the OsPRIOa promoter can drive glucuronidase(GUS)gene expressing in spots of leaf cells,leaf trichomes,lemmas and paleae,germinating embryos,calli and root tips.The leaf expression of OsPR10a::GUS was dramatically in creased upon jasm onic acid(JA)and cytoki nin(CK)treatme nts,or challe nges of the pathogen Magnaporthe grisea and Xanthomonas oryzae pv.oryzae.Thus,the OsPRIOa promoter reported here can faithfully reflect its native gene expression.The effects of several JA and CK responsive OsWRKY genes on the regulation of OsPRIOa promoter were then inspected by luciferase transient expression assay,and the JA inducible OsWRKYlO transcription factor was found as a new positive regulator of OsPRIOa.However,the key transcription factors of JA and CK signaling pathways,OsMYC2 and B-type response regulators,were not responsible for the activation of OsPRIOa promote Our findings provided new in sights into the regulation of OsPRIOa expression during plan t-hormone/pathoge n interactions,and the OsPRIOa reporter system can be useful to unravel novel regulators from both pathogen and host.

Effect of ploidy level on expression of lycopene biosynthesis genes and accumulation of phytohormones during watermelon(Citrullus lanatus) fruit development and ripening

The difference between lycopene and phytohormone levels among diploid, triploid and tetraploid plants of two watermelon cultivars during fruit growth and ripening was studied. The expression pattern of five genes（phytoene synthase（PSY1）, phytoene desaturase（PDS）, ζ-carotene desaturase（ZDS）, carotenoid isomerase（CRTISO）, and lycopene β-cyclase（LCYB）） was analyzed in details. In red-fleshed cultivar Mimei, lycopene content increased rapidly from 25 to 35 days after pollination（DAP）, and then decreased at 40 DAP. Triploid and tetraploid fruit had higher levels of lycopene than diploid. Moreover, triploid tended to contain more lycopene than tetraploid during fruit growth and ripening stages. However, little amount of lycopene（0–2 mg kg–1 fresh weight（FW）） in yellow-fleshed cultivar Huangmei was found during all fruit development stages. In Mimei, transcript level of PSY1 was generally higher than the other four genes, and LCYB gene expression was the lowest among all five genes being tested. PSY1, CRTISO and LCYB genes showed higher transcript levels in polyploid than in diploid fruit. By contrast, in Huangmei, transcript level of LCYB was not the lowest, but only lower than that of PSY1. PSY1, CRTISO and LCYB genes showed higher expression levels in diploid than in polyploid fruit. In Mimei, the negative correlation between gibberellane（GA） content and lycopene accumulation was determined in all three different ploidy fruits, while a positive correlation was observed between abscisic acid（ABA） content and lycopene accumulation only in diploid watermelon. These results indicated that different lycopene contents in different ploidy watermelons is regulated by the differential transcription expression of the lycopene metabolic genes and phytohormones.

Exogenous Spermidine Promotes Somatic Embryogenesis of Cunninghamia lanceolata by Altering the Endogenous Phytohormone Content

In order to study how exogenous hormones in C.lanceolata(gymnosperm)regulate somatic embryogenesis,we measured the endogenous phytohormones of two genotypes with different somatic embryogenesis efficiency and found that an increase in endogenous concentrations of IAA and ABA may be correlated to more efficient somatic embryogenesis.By applying exogenous spermidine,we found that exogenous hormones may affect somatic embryogenesis efficiency through affecting the endogenous phytohormone content.Based on these results,further studies can be conducted whereby the concentration of exogenous hormones or the levels of endogenous phytohormones by molecular methods are regulated to promote somatic embryogenesis.Our research may benefit the long-term economic output of the forestry industry and lays the foundation to studying the molecular mechanism that controls somatic embryogenesis efficiency.

Interactive Effects of Drought Stress and Phytohormones or Polyamines on Growth and Yield of Two M(<i>Zea maize</i>L) Genotypes

Two maize genotypes (Nefertiti and Bashaier) were picked up from nine maize genotypes during the early vegetative growth (25 days) to be cultivated in open field upon the crop yield under the different drought stress levels (90,70,50,30) or under the interaction effect of drought stress and phytohormones or polyamines. According to the data of growth criteria, the maize genotype Nefertiti was found to be the most drought sensitive genotype, while the genotype Bashaier was found to be the most drought resistant genotype. Additionally while the photosynthetic pigments remained more or less unchanged in genotype Bashaier, their biosynthesis destroyed earlier in the drought sensitive genotype (Nefertiti). Also while the genotype Bashaier absorbed and accumulated a sufficient amount of mono and divalent cations (K+, Ca++ and Mg++), the genotype Nefertiti did not. Accordingly while the genotype Bashaier gave a crop yield up to 50% field capacity, the genotype Nefertiti gave a crop yield only up to 70% field capacity and failed to give a crop yield beyond this level. The interaction effect of drought stress and phytohormones and polyamines improved the all above characteristics. Interestingly each of these activators considerably improved the production of crop yield only in genotype Bashaier specially polyamines they produced more than 60% field capacity and at the level of 30% field capacity (the level which did not give crop yield in this genotype). However, phytohormones in generally did not make an important effect on the crop yield in genotype Nefertiti although they improved the dry matter production during the vegetative stages. Such situation seemed to be complicated and borne many questions to be studied in the future.

The Effect of Phytohormones on Lavender （Lavandula Angustiflia Mill.） Organogenesis

Lavender （L. angustifolia） is a genus of flowering plants in the mint family, Lamiaceae. It is an aromatic shrub with multiple stems growing 30 to 60 cm tall. It is native to Asia, Europe and Mediterranean regions and grows on hilly areas and coastlines. The evergreen leaves are narrow and long and covered in fine hairs, which normally contain the essential oils. The leaves are also pinnately toothed, or pinnate. The plant blooms between April and June, and flowers are purple produced on violet bracts. All parts of the plant have a strong and scented odor and a bitter taste. The flowers and leaves are used as an herbal medicine. Lavender essential oil is extracted by distilling flowers and leaves, Essential oil has higher levels of linalyl acetate （40%）, butyric acid, propionic acid, valeric acid, free linalool. Considering the lack of information about lavender tissue culture, the current experiment＇ was aimed to study the effect of phytohormones on lavender callus induction and organogenesis. The lavender explants （leaf and apical meristem） were cultured onto MS media supplemented with different phytohormones. According to the observations, 5 mg/L NAA and 5 mg/L KIN treatment caused leaf and root formation, which were originally derived t^om dense and green calli. The MS medium containing 5 mg/L IBA and 5 mg/L Kin was effective just on leafy explants so that explants formed into leaves after callus induction. Application of 5 mg/L NAA and 5 mg/L BAP on apical meristem explants produced shoot and root after callus induction. However, complete plants were produced after sub-culturing the samples. In conclusion, MS medium supplemented with 5 mg/L NAA and 5 mg/L BAP was selected as the best medium for lavender tissue culture.

Expression and functional analyses of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MPK) cascade genes in response to phytohormones in wheat ( Triticum aestivum L.)

Mitogen-activated protein kinase （MPK） cascades consist of a set of kinase types （MPKKKs, MPKKs, MPKs） to establish conserved signal-transducing modules mediating plant growth, development as well as responses to internal and external cues. In this study, the expression patterns of six MPKKK, two MPKK, and 11 MPK genes in wheat in responses to external treatments of phytohormones, including naphthylacetic acid （NAA）, abscisic acid （ABA）, 6-benzyladenine （6-BA）, gibber- ellin （GA3）, salisylic acid （SA）, jasmonic acid （JA）, and ethylene （ETH）, were investigated. Expression analysis revealed that several of the MPK cascade genes are responses to the external phytohormone signaling. Of which, TaMPKKKA;3 is induced by 6-BA and NAA while TaMPK4 repressed by ETH, GA3, SA, and JA; TaMPKKKA, TaMPKKKA;3 and TaMPK1 are down-regulated by ETH and GA3whereas TaMPK9 and TaMPK12 repressed by ETH and JA in addition that TaMPK12 also repressed by GA3; TaMPK12;1 is down-regulated by ABA, GA3 and SA while TaMPK17 repressed by all exogenous phytonormones examined. TaMPK4, a MPK type gene previously characterized to mediate tolerance to phosphate （Pi） deprivation, was functionally evaluated for its role in mediation of responses of plants to exogenous GA3, ETH, SA, and JA. Results indicated that overexpression and antisense expression of TaMPK4 in tobacco dramatically modify the growth of seedlings upon treatments of GA3, SA and JA, in which the overexpressors behaved deteriorated growth feature whereas the seedlings with antisense expression of TaMPK4 exhibited improved seedling phenotype. The growth behaviors in lines overexpressing or antisensely expressing TaMPK4 are closely associated with the biomass and the corresponding hormone-associated parameters. These results demonstrated that TaMPK4 acts as a critical player in mediating the phyto- hormone signaling. Our findings have identified the phytohormone-responsive MPK cascade genes in wheat and provided a connection between the phytohormone-mediated responses and the MPK cascade pathways.