Analysis and Characterization of the GABA Transaminase and Succinate Semialdehyde Dehydrogenase Genes in the Microalga Isochrysis zhanjiangensis in Response to Abiotic Stresses

Gamma-aminobutyric acid(GABA),widely existing in different organisms,is rapidly accumulated in plants in response to environmental stresses.The main biosynthesis and degradation pathways of GABA constitute the GABA shunt,which is tied to the tricarboxylic acid(TCA)cycle.GABA transaminase(GABA-T)and succinate semialdehyde dehydrogenase(SSADH)are two essential enzymes for the GABA degradation pathway.While there are abundant studies on GABA shunt in higher plants at the physiological and genetic levels,research on its role in microalgae remains limited.This study aimed at exploring the function of GABA-T and SSADH genes in Isochrysis zhanjiangensis,an important diet microalga,under different stresses.We cloned two GABA-T genes,IzGABA-T1 and IzGABA-T2,and one SSADH gene IzSSADH from Isochrysis zhanjiangensis and conducted heterologous expression experiments.The results showed that the overexpression of IzGABA-T1 or IzGABA-T2 enhanced the survival rates of yeast transformants under heat or NaCl stress,while the overexpression of IzSSADH improved yeast tolerance to NaCl stress but had no obvious effect on heat stress.Additionally,the results of quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction(qPCR)showed that IzGABA-T1 transcription increased in the HT(salinity 25,35℃)and LS(salinity 15,25℃)groups.At 24 h,the IzGABA-T2 transcriptions increased in the HT,LS,and HS(salinity 35,25℃)groups,but their transcription levels decreased in all groups at 48 h.IzSSADH transcription increased in the LS group.These results suggest that IzGABA-T1,IzGABA-T2,and IzSSADH are associated with temperature and salinity stresses and possess a certain preference for different stresses.

Genome wide investigation of Hsf gene family in Phoebe bournei:identification,evolution,and expression after abiotic stresses

Heat shock transcription factors(Hsfs)have important roles during plant growth and development and responses to abiotic stresses.The identification and func-tion of Hsf genes have been thoroughly studied in various herbaceous plant species,but not woody species,especially Phoebe bournei,an endangered,unique species in China.In this study,17 members of the Hsf gene family were identi-fied from P.bournei using bioinformatic methods.Phyloge-netic analysis indicated that PbHsf genes were grouped into three subfamilies:A,B,and C.Conserved motifs,three-dimensional structure,and physicochemical properties of the PbHsf proteins were also analyzed.The structure of the PbHsf genes varied in the number of exons and introns.Pre-diction of cis-acting elements in the promoter region indi-cated that PbHsf genes are likely involved in responses to plant hormones and stresses.A collinearity analysis dem-onstrated that expansions of the PbHsf gene family mainly take place via segmental duplication.The expression levels of PbHsf genes varied across different plant tissues.On the basis of the expression profiles of five representative PbHsf genes during heat,cold,salt,and drought stress,PbHsf pro-teins seem to have multiple functions depending on the type of abiotic stress.This systematic,genome-wide investigation of PbHsf genes in P.bournei and their expression patterns provides valuable insights and information for further func-tional dissection of Hsf proteins in this endangered,unique species.

Genome-Wide Identification and Expression Analysis of the GSK3 Gene Family in Sunflower under Various Abiotic Stresses

Genes in the glycogen synthase kinase 3(GSK3)family are essential in regulating plant response to stressful conditions.This study employed bioinformatics to uncover the GSK3 gene family from the sunflower genome database.The expressions of GSK3 genes in different tissues and stress treatments,such as salt,drought,and cold,were assessed using transcriptome sequencing and quantitative real-time PCR(qRT-PCR).The study results revealed that the 12 GSK3 genes of sunflower,belonging to four classes(Classes I–IV),contained the GSK3 kinase domain and 11–13 exons.The majority of GSK3 genes were highly expressed in the leaf axil and flower,while their expression levels were relatively lower in the leaf.As a result of salt stress,six of the GSK3 genes(HaSK11,HaSK22,HaSK23,HaSK32,HaSK33,and HaSK41)displayed a notable increase in expression,while HaSK14 and HaSK21 experienced a significant decrease.With regard to drought stress,five of the GSK3 genes(HaSK11,HaSK13,HaSK21,HaSK22,and HaSK33)experienced a remarkable rise in expression.When exposed to cold stress,seven of the GSK3 genes(HaSK11,HaSK12,HaSK13,HaSK32,HaSK33,HaSK41,and HaSK42)showed a substantial increase,whereas HaSK21 and HaSK23 had a sharp decline.This research is of great importance in understanding the abiotic resistance mechanism of sunflowers and developing new varieties with improved stress resistance.

Upregulation of the glycine-rich protein-encoding gene GhGRPL enhances plant tolerance to abiotic and biotic stressors by promoting secondary cell wall development

Abiotic and biotic stressors adversely affect plant survival,biomass generation,and crop yields.As the global availability of arable land declines and the impacts of global warming intensify,such stressors may have increasingly pronounced effects on agricultural productivity.Currently,researchers face the overarching challenge of comprehensively enhancing plant resilience to abiotic and biotic stressors.The secondary cell wall plays a crucial role in bolstering the stress resistance of plants.To increase plant resistance to stress through genetic manipulation of the secondary cell wall,we cloned a cell wall protein designated glycine-rich protein-like(GhGRPL)from cotton fibers,and found that it is specifically expressed during the period of secondary cell wall biosynthesis.Notably,this protein differs from its Arabidopsis homolog,AtGRP,since its glycine-rich domain is deficient in glycine residues.GhGRPL is involved in secondary cell wall deposition.Upregulation of GhGRPL enhances lignin accumulation and,consequently,the thickness of the secondary cell walls,thereby increasing the plant’s resistance to abiotic stressors,such as drought and salinity,and biotic threats,including Verticillium dahliae infection.Conversely,interference with GhGRPL expression in cotton reduces lignin accumulation and compromises that resistance.Taken together,our findings elucidate the role of GhGRPL in regulating secondary cell wall development through its influence on lignin deposition,which,in turn,reinforces cell wall robustness and impermeability.These findings highlight the promising near-future prospect of adopting GhGRPL as a viable,effective approach for enhancing plant resilience to abiotic and biotic stress factors.

Abiotic and Biotic Factors Controlling Grain Aroma along Value Chain of Fragrant Rice:A Review

The aroma of fragrant rice is one of the grain quality attributes that significantly influenceconsumer preferences and prices in world markets. The volatile compound 2-acetyl-1-pyrroline (2AP) isrecognized as a key component of the aroma in fragrant rice. The variation in grain 2AP content amongvarious fragrant rice varieties is associated with the expression of the badh2 gene, with 19 alleles havingbeen identified so far. The grain 2AP content is strongly influenced by environmental and managementfactors during cultivation as well as post-harvest conditions. This review pinpointed the major abiotic andbiotic factors that control grain 2AP content. Abiotic factors refer to water, temperature, light quality,fertilizer application (both macro- and micro-nutrients), and soil properties, including salinity, while bioticfactors include microorganisms that produce aromatic compounds, thus influencing the grain aroma infragrant rice. Post-harvest management, including storage and drying conditions, can significantly impactthe grain 2AP content, and proper post-harvest conditions can intensify the grain aroma. This reviewsuggests that there are rice varieties that can serve as potential sources of genetic material for breedingrice varieties with high grain aroma content. It offers an overview of recent research on the major factorsaffecting the aroma content in fragrant rice. This knowledge will facilitate further research on theproduction of high-quality rice to meet the demands of farmers and consumers.

Strategies and prospects for melatonin to alleviate abiotic stress in horticultural plants

Melatonin is a conserved pleiotropic molecule in animals and plants.Melatonin is involved in many development processes and stress responses;thus,exploring its function in plants,particularly in horticultural plants,has become a rapidly developing field.Many studies have revealed that phytomelatonin acts as a plant biostimulant and increase its tolerance to various abiotic stressors,including extreme temperature,drought,osmotic disturbance,heavy metals,and ultraviolet(UV).Melatonin appears to have roles in the scavenging of reactive oxygen species(ROS)and other free radicals,affecting the primary and secondary metabolism of plants,regulating the transcripts of stress-related enzymes and transcription factors,and crosstalk with other hormones under different environmental conditions.This pleiotropy makes phytomelatonin an attractive regulator to improve resistance to abiotic stress in plants.The recent discovery of the potential phytomelatonin receptor CAND2/PMTR1 and the proposition of putative models related to the phytomelatonin signaling pathways makes phytomelatonin a new plant hormone.Based on relevant studies from our laboratory,this review summarizes the phytomelatonin biosynthetic and metabolic pathways in plants and the latest research progress on phytomelatonin in abiotic stress of horticultural plants.This study will provide a reference for elucidating the regulatory mechanism of phytomelatonin affecting the resistance to abiotic stress in plants.

The Correlation between Nutrition and Transport Mechanism under Abiotic Stress in Plants: A Comprehensive Review

Variations in the nutrients and water that plants require for metabolism,development,and the maintenance of cellular homeostasis are the main causes of abiotic stress in plants.It has,however,hardly ever been studied how these transporter proteins,such as aquaporin which is responsible for food and water intake in cell plasma mem-branes,interact with one another.This review aims to explore the interactions between nutrient transporters and aquaporins during water and nutrient uptake.It also investigates how symbiotic relationships influence the plant genome’s responses to regulatory processes such as photoperiodism,senescence,and nitrogenfixation.These responses are observed in reaction to various abiotic stresses.For instance,plasma membrane transporters are upregulated during macronutrient insufficiency,tonoplast transporters are overexpressed,and aquaporins are downregulated in micronutrient deficiency.Additionally,tolerant plants often exhibit increased expression of nutrient transporters and aquaporins in response to drought,salt,and cold temperatures.To better comprehend plant stress tolerance to abiotic challenges including starvation,K famine,salt,and freezing temperatures,both classes of nutrient and water transporters should be considered at the same time.

Genome-wide identification of TPS genes in sesame and analysis of their expression in response to abiotic stresses

Trehalose and its precursor,trehalose-6-phosphate,play critical roles in plant metabolism and response to abiotic stresses.Trehalose-6-phosphate synthase(TPS)is a key enzyme in the trehalose synthesis pathway.Hence this study identified TPS genes in sesame(SiTPSs)and examined their expression patterns under various abiotic stresses.Totally,ten SiTPSs were identified and comprehensively characterized.SiTPSs were found to be unevenly distributed on five out of 13 sesame chromosomes and were predicted to be localized in chloroplasts and vacuoles of cells.Phylogenetic analysis classified SiTPS proteins into two groups(I and II),which was supported by gene structure and conserved motif analyses.Analysis of cis-acting elements in promoter regions of SiTPSs revealed that they might primarily involve developmental and environmental responses.SiTPSs exhibited different expression patterns in different tissues and under different abiotic stresses.Most group II SiTPS genes(SiTPS4-SiTPS10)were strongly induced by drought,salt,waterlogging,and osmotic stress.Particularly,SiTPS10 was the most significantly up-regulated under various abiotic stresses,indicating it is a candidate gene for improving sesame tolerance to multiple abiotic stresses.Our results provide insight into the TPS gene family in sesame and fundamental resources for genomics studies towards dissecting SiTPS genes’functions.

Identification and Characterization of ZF-HD Genes in Response to Abscisic Acid and Abiotic Stresses in Maize

The zinc finger homeodomain(ZF-HD)genes belong to the homeobox gene family,playing critical roles in flower development and stress response.Despite their importance,however,to date there has been no genome-wide identification and characterization of the ZF-HD genes that are probably involved in stress responses in maize.In this study,24 ZF-HD genes were identified,and their chromosomal locations,protein properties,duplication patterns,structures,conserved motifs and expression patterns were investigated.The results revealed that the ZF-HD genes are unevenly distributed on nine chromosomes and that most of these genes lack introns.Six and two ZF-HD genes have undergone segmental and tandem duplication,respectively,during genome expansion.These 24 ZF-HD transcription factors were classified into six major groups on the basis of protein molecular evolutionary relationship.The expression profiles of these genes in different tissues were evaluated,resulting in producing two distinct clusters.ZF-HD genes are preferentially expressed in reproductive tissues.Furthermore,expression profiles of the 24 ZF-HD genes in response to different kinds of stresses revealed that ten genes were simultaneously up-regulated under ABA,salt and PEG treatments;meanwhile four genes were simultaneously down-regulated.These findings will pave the way for deciphering the function and mechanism of ZF-HD genes on how to implicate in abiotic stress.

Isolation of an Arabidopsis Gene Encoding Ins (1,3,4) P_3 5/6-Kinase-like Protein and Involved in Plant Response to Abiotic Stresses

By mRNA differential display from control versus NaCl_shocked Arabidopsis seedlings, we screened an Arabidopsis 3′ partial cDNA, which represents a gene encoding inositol 1,3,4_trisphosphate (Ins(1,3,4)P 3) 5/6_kinase_like protein. Northern blotting analysis showed that the gene, named as AtITL1, is strongly induced by NaCl and low temperature, but not induced by drought and abscisic acid (ABA). Analysis of 5′ region of the AtITL1 found that there are dehydration_responsive element/C_repeat (DRE/CRT) cis _acting elements, but no elements related to G_box and ABRE (ABA_responsive element) in its 5′ region, which is consistent with the expression patterns of the AtITL1 independent of ABA. These results suggest that the AtITL1 may be involved in the osmotic stress response pathway independent of ABA.

Mechanisms of autophagy function and regulation in plant growth,development,and response to abiotic stress

Autophagy is an evolutionarily conserved degradation pathway of lysosomes(in mammals)and vacuoles(in yeasts and plants)from lower yeasts to higher mammals.It wraps unwanted organelles and damaged proteins in a double-membrane structure to transport them to vacuoles for degradation and recycling.In plants,autophagy functions in adaptation to the environment and maintenance of growth and development.This review systematically describes the autophagy process,biological functions,and regulatory mechanisms occurring during plant growth and development and in response to abiotic stresses.It provides a basis for further theoretical research and guidance of agricultural production.

The nuclear export receptor OsXPO1 is required for rice development and involved in abiotic stress responses

The transport of proteins to and from the nucleus is necessary for many cellular processes and is one of the ways plants respond to developmental signals and environmental stresses.Nucleocytoplasmic trafficking of proteins is mediated by the nuclear transport receptor(NTR).Although NTR has been extensively studied in humans and Arabidopsis,it has rarely been identified and functionally characterized in rice.In this study,we identified exportin 1 in rice(OsXPO1)as a nuclear export receptor.OsXPO1shares high protein identity with its functional homologs in Arabidopsis and other organisms.OsXPO1localized to both the nucleus and the cytoplasm,directly interacted with the small GTPases OsRAN1and OsRAN2 in the nucleus,and mediated their nuclear export.Loss-of-function osxpo1 mutations were lethal at the seedling stage.Suppression of OsXPO1 expression in RNA interference lines produced multifaceted developmental defects,including arrested growth,premature senescence,abnormal inflorescence,and brown and mouth-opened spikelets.Overexpression of OsXPO1 in rice reduced plant height and seed-setting rate,but increased plant tolerance in response to PEG-mimicked drought stress and salt stress.These results indicate that OsXPO1 is a nuclear export receptor and acts in regulating plant development and abiotic stress responses.

Isolation and Expression Patterns of Rice WRKY82 Transcription Factor Gene Responsive to Both Biotic and Abiotic Stresses

WRKY transcription factors are involved in the regulation of response to biotic and abiotic stresses in plants. A full-length cDNA clone of rice WRKY82 gene （OsWRKY82） was isolated from a cDNA library generated from leaves infected by Magnaporthe grisea. OsWRKY82 contained an entire open reading frame in length of 1 701 bp, and was predicted to encode a polypeptide of 566 amino acid residues consisting of two WRKY domains, each with a zinc finger motif of C2H2, belonging to the WRKY subgroup I. OsWRKY82 shared high identity at the amino acid level with those from Sorghum bicolor, Hordeum vulgare, and Zea mays. The transcript level of OsWRKY82 was relatively higher in stems, leaves, and flowers, and less abundant in grains. It was induced by inoculation with M. grisea and Rhizoctonia solani. However, the inducible expression in incompatible rice-M. grisea interactions was earlier and greater than that in compatible interactions. The expression of OsWRKY82 was up-regulated by methyl jasmonate and ethephon, whereas salicylic acid exerted no effects on its expression. Moreover, OsWRKY82 exhibited transcriptional activation ability in yeast. Additionally, OsWRKY82 transcripts could be induced by wounding and heat shocking, but not by abscisic acid, cold, high salinity and dehydration. By contrast, gibberellin suppressed the expression of OsWRKY82. These indicate that OsWRKY82 is a multiply stress-inducible gene responding to both biotic and abiotic stresses, and may be involved in the regulation of defense response to pathogens and tolerance against abiotic stresses by jasmonic acid/ethylene-dependent signaling pathway.

Genome-wide identification and analysis of the DREB genes and their expression profiles under abiotic stresses in Chinese jujube(Ziziphus jujuba Mill.)

CBF/DREB proteins play a critical role in abiotic stress-mediated gene expression and represent attractive regulons for plant breeding programs.However,no study has been conducted for CBF/DREB protein-related genes in jujube(Ziziphus jujuba Mill.).In this study,twenty-five ZjDREB genes were identified and annotated from the jujube(Z.jujuba‘Dongzao’)genome.Detailed analysis,including gene classification,annotation,phylogenetic evaluation,conserved motif determination and expression profiling were performed on all genes.Phylogenetic analysis showed that ZjDREB proteins were divided into five subgroups(A1–A5),but lacking a subgroup A6 corresponding to AtDREBs.The ZjDREB genes were distributed in nine of twelve chromosomes in the genome.Additionally,the expression patterns of the DREB genes under different abiotic stresses were investigated using q RT-PCR.Nineteen ZjDREB genes were down-regulated under low temperature,in contrast six ZjDREB genes(01,03,05,11,23 and 24)were up-regulated.Under drought,salinity and high temperature conditions,expression of ZjDREB03,09,10,14,15,17 and 20 genes were induced and showed similar expression patterns,suggesting that various stress conditions share common elements in the signaling pathway.The results suggest that the family of DREB genes play an important role in abiotic stresses in jujube,and provide a foundation for further functional studies of this important class of transcriptional regulators.

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.

Versatile Potentiality of Silicon in Mitigation of Biotic and Abiotic Stresses in Plants: A Review

The “quasi-essential element” silicon (Si) is not considered indispensable for plant growth and its accumulation varies between species largely due to differential uptake phenomena. Silicon uptake and distribution is a complex process involving the participation of three transporters (Lsi1, Lsi2 and Lsi6) and is beneficial during recovery from multiple stresses. This review focuses on the pivotal role of silicon in counteracting several biotic and abiotic stresses including nutrient imbalances, physical stresses together with uptake, transport of this metalloid in a wide variety of dicot and monocot species. The knowledge on the beneficial effects of silicon and possible Si-induced mechanisms of minimizing stress has been discussed. Accumulation of silicon beneath the cuticles fortifies the cell wall against pathogen attack. Si-induced reduction of heavy metal uptake, root-shoot translocation, chelation, complexation, upregulation of antioxidative defense responses and regulation of gene expression are the mechanisms involved in alleviation of heavy metal toxicity in plants. Silicon further improves growth and physiological attributes under salt and drought stress. Effective use of silicon in agronomy can be an alternative to the prevalent practice of traditional fertilizers for maintaining sustainable productivity. Therefore, soil nutrition with fertilizers containing plant-available silicon may be considered a cost-effective way to shield plant from various stresses, improve plant growth as well as yield and attain sustainable cultivation worldwide.

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.

Genome-wide identification of WRKY gene family and expression analysis under abiotic stresses in Andrographis paniculata

Andrographis paniculata(A.paniculata)is a Chinese herbal medicine that clears away heat,reduces inflammation,protects the liver,and promotes choleretics.The WRKYs of A.paniculata are still not well characterized,although many WRKYs have been identified in various plant species.In the present study,59 A.paniculata WRKY(ApWRKY)genes were identified and renamed on the basis of their respective chromosome distribution.These ApWRKYs were divided into three groups via phylogenetic analysis according to their WRKY domains and combined with WRKY of Arabidopsis.The 59 identified ApWRKY transcription factors were nonuniformity distributed on 23 chromosomes of A.paniculata.From the structural analysis of the conserved motifs,different ApWRKYs structures showed different biological functions,and the ApWRKY transcription factor had certain species-specificity in the evolutionary process.The expression patterns of the 41 ApWRKYs were examined through quantitative real-time PCR(qRT-PCR)in various tissues and under abiotic stresses(salt).The results showed that most of the ApWRKY had different reactions to salt treatment.In addition,the content of the four main secondary metabolites in A.paniculata leaves was determined under salt stress.The results show that under a low concentration of salt treatment,the synthesis of andrographolide can be improved.

Identification of the Regulator of G-Protein Signaling Protein Responsive to Plant Hormones and Abiotic Stresses in Brassica napus

Regulator of G protein signaling proteins （RGS） accelerate the rate of GTP hydrolysis by Gαproteins, thus acting as negative regulators of G-protein signaling. Studies on Arabidopsis and soybean have proven that RGS proteins are physiologically important in plants and contribute to the signaling pathways regulated by different stimuli. Brassica napus is an important agriculturally relevant plant, the wildly planted oilseed rape in the world, which possesses an identiifed Gα, Gβand Gγsubunits. In the present study, we identiifed and characterized a Brassica napus RGS gene, BnRGS1, which contained an open reading frame of 1 380 bp encoding a putative 52.6 kDa polypeptide of 459 amino acids, within seven putative transmembrane domains in the N-terminal and RGS box in the C-terminal. BnRGS1 is located on the membrane in onion epidermal cells and tobacco leaves, and interacts with BnGA1 in the mating-based split-ubiquitin system. The expression levels of BnRGS1 were quite different in different tissues and developmental stages, and induced by abscisic acid （ABA） and indole-3-acetic acid （IAA）. The effects of gibberellin （GA3） and brassinolide （BR） on the expression of BnRGS1 were irregular under the concentrations tested. Moreover, the transcript level of BnRGS1 was also induced by polyethylene glycol （PEG）, whereas remained little changed by 200 mmol L-1 NaCl. These results suggested that the BnRGS1 may be involved in B. napus response to plant hormone signaling and abiotic stresses.

Morpho-Physiological,Biochemical and Molecular Adaptation of Millets to Abiotic Stresses:A Review

Abiotic stresses such as drought,heat,cold,nutrient deficiency,excess salt and hazardous metals can hamper plantgrowth and development.Intensive agriculture of only a few major staple food crops that are sensitive and intolerant to environmental stresses has led to an agrarian crisis.On the other hand,nutritionally rich,gluten free and stress tolerant plants like millets are neglected and underutilized.Millets sustain about one-third of the world’s population and show exceptional tolerance to various abiotic and biotic stresses.Millets are C4 plants that are adapted to marginal and dry lands of arid and semi-arid regions,and survive low rainfall and poor soils.Abiotic stresses significantly affect plant growth which ultimately results in reduced crop yields.However,various adaptation mechanisms have evolved in millets to withstand different stresses.This review aims at exploring various of these morphophysiological,biochemical and molecular aspects of mechanisms in millets.Morphological adaptations include short life span,smallplant height and leaf area,dense root system,adjusted flowering time,increased root and decreased shoot lengths,high tillering,and leaf folding.A high accumulation of various osmoprotectants(proline,soluble sugars,proteins)improves hyperosmolarity and enhances the activity of antioxidant enzymes(e.g.,Ascorbate peroxidase,Superoxide dismutase,Catalase,Peroxidase)providing defense against oxidative damage.Physiologically,plants show low photosynthetic and stomatal conductance rates,and root respiration which help them to escape from water stress.Molecular adaptations include the upregulation of stress-related transcriptional factors,signalling genes,ion transporters,secondary metabolite pathways,receptor kinases,phytohormone biosynthesis and antioxidative enzymes.Lack of genetic resources hampers improvement of millets.However,several identified and characterized genes for stress tolerance can be exploited for further development of millet resilience.This will provide them with an extra characteristic plant resistance to withstand environmental pressures,besides their excellent nutritional value over the conventional staple crops like rice,wheat and maize.