Grain Yield,Biomass Accumulation,and Leaf Photosynthetic Characteristics of Rice under Combined Salinity-Drought Stress

Simultaneous stresses of salinity and drought often coincide during rice-growing seasons in saline lands,primarily due to insufficient water resources and inadequate irrigation facilities.Consequently,combined salinity-drought stress poses a major threat to rice production.In this study,two salinity levels(NS,non-salinity;HS,high salinity)along with three drought treatments(CC,control condition;DJ,drought stress imposed at jointing;DH,drought stress imposed at heading)were performed to investigate their combined influences on leaf photosynthetic characteristics,biomass accumulation,and rice yield formation.Salinity,drought,and their combination led to a shortened growth period from heading to maturity,resulting in a reduced overall growth duration.Grain yield was reduced under both salinity and drought stress,with a more substantial reduction under the combined salinity-drought stress.The combined stress imposed at heading caused greater yield losses in rice compared with the stress imposed at jointing.Additionally,the combined salinity-drought stress induced greater decreases in shoot biomass accumulation from heading to maturity,as well as in shoot biomass and nonstructural carbohydrate(NSC)content in the stem at heading and maturity.However,it increased the harvest index and NSC remobilization reserve.Salinity and drought reduced the leaf area index and SPAD value of flag leaves and weakened the leaf photosynthetic characteristics as indicated by lower photosynthetic rates,transpiration rates,and stomatal conductance.These reductions were more pronounced under the combined stress.Salinity,drought,and especially their combination,decreased the activities of ascorbate peroxidase,catalase,and superoxide dismutase,while increasing the contents of malondialdehyde,hydrogen peroxide,and superoxide radical.Our results indicated a more significant yield loss in rice when subjected to combined salinity-drought stress.The individual and combined stresses of salinity and drought diminished antioxidant enzyme activities,inhibited leaf photosynthetic functions,accelerated leaf senescence,and subsequently lowered assimilate accumulation and grain yield.

Overexpression of the transcription factor MdWRKY115 improves drought and osmotic stress tolerance by directly binding to the MdRD22 promoter in apple

Abiotic stress reduces plant yield and quality.WRKY transcription factors play key roles in abiotic stress responses in plants,but the molecular mechanisms by which WRKY transcription factors mediate responses to drought and osmotic stresses in apple(Malus×domestica Borkh.)remain unclear.Here,we functionally characterized the apple GroupⅢWRKY gene MdWRKY115.qRT-PCR analysis showed that MdWRKY115 expression was up-regulated by drought and osmotic stresses.GUS activity analysis revealed that the promoter activity of MdWRKY115 was enhanced under osmotic stress.Subcellular localization and transactivation assays indicated that MdWRKY115 was localized to the nucleus and had a transcriptional activity domain at the N-terminal region.Transgenic analysis revealed that the overexpression of MdWRKY115 in Arabidopsis plants and in apple callus markedly enhanced their tolerance to drought and osmotic stresses.DNA affinity purification sequencing showed that MdWRKY115 binds to the promoter of the stress-related gene MdRD22.This binding was further verified by an electrophoretic mobility shift assay.Collectively,these findings suggest that MdWRKY115 is an important regulator of osmotic and drought stress tolerance in apple.

Involvement of the ABA-and H_(2)O_(2)-Mediated Ascorbate-Glutathione Cycle in the Drought Stress Responses of Wheat Roots

Abscisic acid(ABA),hydrogen peroxide(H_(2)O_(2)) and ascorbate(AsA)–glutathione(GSH)cycle are widely known for their participation in various stresses.However,the relationship between ABA and H_(2)O_(2) levels and the AsA–GSH cycle under drought stress in wheat has not been studied.In this study,a hydroponic experiment was conducted in wheat seedlings subjected to 15%polyethylene glycol(PEG)6000–induced dehydration.Drought stress caused the rapid accumulation of endogenous ABA and H_(2)O_(2) and significantly decreased the number of root tips compared with the control.The application of ABA significantly increased the number of root tips,whereas the application of H_(2)O_(2) markedly reduced the number of root tips,compared with that under 15%PEG-6000.In addition,drought stress markedly increased the DHA,GSH and GSSG levels,but decreased the AsA levels,AsA/DHA and GSH/GSSG ratios compared with those in the control.The activities of the four enzymes in the AsA–GSH cycle were also markedly increased under drought stress,including glutathione reductase(GR),ascorbate peroxidase(APX),monodehydroascorbate reductase(MDHAR)and dehydroascorbate reductase(DHAR),compared with those in the control.However,the application of an ABA inhibitor significantly inhibited GR,DHAR and APX activities,whereas the application of an H_(2)O_(2) inhibitor significantly inhibited DHAR and MDHAR activities.Furthermore,the application of ABA inhibitor significantly promoted the increases of H_(2)O_(2) and the application of H_(2)O_(2) inhibitor significantly blocked the increases of ABA,compared with those under 15% PEG-6000.Taken together,the results indicated that ABA and H_(2)O_(2) probably interact under drought stress in wheat;and both of them can mediate drought stress by modulating the enzymes in AsA–GSH cycle,where ABA acts as the main regulator of GR,DHAR,and APX activities,and H_(2)O_(2) acts as the main regulator of DHAR and MDHAR activities.

The BEL1-like transcription factor GhBLH5-A05 participates in cotton response to drought stress

Drought stress impairs crop growth and development.BEL1-like family transcription factors may be involved in plant response to drought stress,but little is known of the molecular mechanism by which these proteins regulate plant response and defense to drought stress.Here we show that the BEL1-like transcription factor GhBLH5-A05 functions in cotton(Gossypium hirsutum)response and defense to drought stress.Expression of GhBLH5-A05 in cotton was induced by drought stress.Overexpression of GhBLH5-A05 in both Arabidopsis and cotton increased drought tolerance,whereas silencing GhBLH5-A05 in cotton resulted in elevated sensitivity to drought stress.GhBLH5-A05 binds to cis elements in the promoters of GhRD20-A09 and GhDREB2C-D05 to activate the expression of these genes.GhBLH5-A05 interacted with the KNOX transcription factor GhKNAT6-A03.Co-expression of GhBLH5-A05 and GhKNAT6-A03 increased the transcription of GhRD20-A09 and GhDREB2C-D05.We conclude that GhBLH5-A05 acts as a regulatory factor with GhKNAT6-A03 functioning in cotton response to drought stress by activating the expression of the drought-responsive genes GhRD20-A09 and GhDREB2C-D05.

Physiology of medicinal and aromatic plants under drought stress

Drought poses a significant challenge,restricting the productivity of medicinal and aromatic plants.The strain induced by drought can impede vital processes like respiration and photosynthesis,affecting various aspects of plants’growth and metabolism.In response to this adversity,medicinal plants employ mechanisms such as morphological and structural adjustments,modulation of drought-resistant genes,and augmented synthesis of secondary metabolites and osmotic regulatory substances to alleviate the stress.Extreme water scarcity can lead to leaf wilting and may ultimately result in plant death.The cultivation and management of medicinal plants under stress conditions often differ from those of other crops.This is because the main goal with medicinal plants is not only to increase the yield of the above-ground parts but also to enhance the production of active ingredients such as essential oils.To elucidate these mechanisms of drought resistance in medicinal and aromatic plants,the current review provides a summary of recent literature encompassing studies on the morphology,physiology,and biochemistry of medicinal and aromatic plants under drought conditions.

Physiological and transcriptome analyses of Chinese cabbage in response to drought stress

Chinese cabbage is an important leafy vegetable crop with high water demand and susceptibility to drought stress.To explore the molecular mechanisms underlying the response to drought,we performed a transcriptome analysis of drought-tolerant and-sensitive Chinese cabbage genotypes under drought stress,and uncovered core drought-responsive genes and key signaling pathways.A co-expression network was constructed by a weighted gene coexpression network analysis(WGCNA)and candidate hub genes involved in drought tolerance were identified.Furthermore,abscisic acid(ABA)biosynthesis and signaling pathways and their drought responses in Chinese cabbage leaves were systemically explored.We also found that drought treatment increased the antioxidant enzyme activities and glucosinolate contents significantly.These results substantially enhance our understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying drought responses in Chinese cabbage.

Exogenous calcium enhances the physiological status and photosynthetic capacity of rose under drought stress

Drought(water shortage)can substantially limit the yield and economic value of rose plants(Rosa spp.).Here,we characterized the effect of exogenous calcium(Ca^(2+))on the antioxidant system and photosynthesis-related properties of rose under polyethylene glycol 6000(PEG6000)-induced drought stress.Chlorophyll levels,as well as leaf and root biomass,were significantly reduced by drought;drought also had a major effect on the enzymatic antioxidant system and increased concentrations of reactive oxygen species.Application of exogenous Ca^(2+)increased the net photosynthetic rate and stomatal conductance of leaves,enhanced water-use efficiency,and increased the length and width of stomata following exposure to drought.Organ-specific physiological responses were observed under different concentrations of Ca^(2+).Application of 5 mmol·L^(-1)Ca^(2+)promoted photosynthesis and antioxidant activity in the leaves,and application of 10 mmol·L^(-1)Ca^(2+)promoted antioxidant activity in the roots.Application of exogenous Ca^(2+)greatly enhanced the phenotype and photosynthetic capacity of potted rose plants following exposure to drought stress.Overall,our findings indicate that the application of exogenous Ca^(2+)enhances the drought resistance of roses by promoting physiological adaptation and that it could be used to aid the cultivation of rose plants.

Improved observation of colonized roots reveals the regulation of arbuscule development and senescence by drought stress in the arbuscular mycorrhizae of citrus

Citrus is the typical mycorrhizal fruit tree species establishing symbiosis with arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi. However, arbuscule development and senescence in colonized citrus roots, especially in response to drought stress, remain unclear, which is mainly due to the difficulty in clearing and staining lignified roots with the conventional method. Here, we improved the observation of colonized roots of citrus plants with the sectioning method, which enabled the clear observation of AM fungal structures. Furthermore, we investigated the effects of one week of drought stress on arbuscule development and senescence with the sectioning method. Microscopy observations indicated that drought stress significantly decreased mycorrhizal colonization (F%and M%) although it did not affect plant growth performance. Fluorescence probes (WGA 488 and/or Nile red) revealed that drought stress inhibited arbuscule development by increasing the percentage of arbuscules at the early stage and decreasing the percentages of arbuscules at the midterm and mature stages. Meanwhile, drought stress accelerated arbuscule senescence, which was characterized by the increased accumulation of neutral lipids. Overall, the sectioning method developed in this study enables the in-depth investigation of arbuscule status, and drought stress can inhibit arbuscule development but accelerate arbuscule senescence in the colonized roots of citrus plants. This study paves the way to elaborately dissecting the arbuscule dynamics in the roots of fruit tree species in response to diverse abiotic stresses.

Physiological Response Mechanism and Drought Resistance Evaluation of Passiflora edulis Sims under Drought Stress

In order to explore the response mechanism of Passiflora edulis Sims to drought stress,the changes in morpho-logical and physiological traits of Passiflora edulis Sims under different drought conditions were studied.A total of 7 germplasm resources of Passiflora edulis Sims were selected and tested under drought stress by the pot culture method under 4 treatment levels:75%–80%(Control,CK)of maximumfield water capacity,55%–60%(Light Drought,LD)of maximumfield water capacity,i.e.,mild drought,40%–45%(Moderate Drought,MD)of max-imumfield water capacity,i.e.,moderate drought and 30%–35%(Severe Drought,SD)of maximumfield water capacity,i.e.,severe drought.On the 40th day of drought treatment,13 indices,including seedling growth mor-phology,physiology,and biochemistry,were measured.The results showed that under drought stress,the height and ground diameter of P.edulis Sims gradually decreased with increasing drought stress,and there were signifi-cant differences in seedling height and ground diameter among the treatments.Drought stress significantly inhib-ited the growth of seven P.edulis Sims varieties.The contents of soluble sugar(SS),soluble protein(SP),proline(Pro),and other substances in P.edulis Sims basically increased with increasing drought stress.With the aggrava-tion of drought stress,the malondialdehyde(MDA)content of P.edulis Sims tended to increase to different degrees,the superoxide dismutase(SOD)activity and peroxidase(POD)activity both tended to increase atfirst and then decrease,and the change in catalase(CAT)activity mostly showed a gradual increasing trend.The con-tents of endogenous hormones in P.edulis Sims significantly differed under different degrees of drought stress.With the aggravation of drought stress,the abscisic acid(ABA)content of P.edulis Sims tended to increase,whereas the contents of gibberellin(GA),indoleacetic acid(IAA),and zeatin nucleoside(ZR)exhibited a down-ward trend.A comprehensive evaluation of the drought resistance of seven P.edulis Sims varieties was conducted based on the principal component analysis method,and the results showed that the drought resistance decreased in the order XH-BL>XH-TWZ>TN1>GH1>ZJ-MT>LP-LZ>DH-JW.

Advances in Research of Drought Stress in Major Pinus spp.: A Bibliometric Analysis and Narrative Review

Climate change has caused fluctuations in the frequency and severity of droughts,favoring extended periods of drought associated with anthropic actions and triggering other stressful abiotic effects that threaten terrestrial ecosystems.As climate warming intensifies,drought is a major challenge for forest growth.Pine(Pinus Linn.)is an important genus of forest in the Northern Hemisphere and has a certain tolerance to drought.This article analyzes and reviews the advances in research about drought stress of major Pinus spp.plants in recent years and discusses understanding and future core problems.To adapt to water-deficient environments,pine plants adapt to drought by changing growth traits,closing some stomata on leaves,changing the growth and structure of roots,and adjusting their physiological activities.Moreover,the expression of specific genes is altered,causing changes in the expression of several signaling molecules and metabolites to counteract drought stress.

Effects of Different Exogenous Substances on Seed Germination of Isatis indigotica Under Drought Stress and Chemical Composition of Isatis indigotica leaves

This study was to investigate the effects of three exogenous substances on chemical constituents of Isatis indigotica leavesand their efficacy in alleviating drought stress, and explore the methods of applying exogenous substances to efficient cultivationof Isatis indigotica. Polyethylene glycol (PEG) was used to simulate drought stress to deal with seeds of Isatis indigotica at thegermination stage (concentration: 0, 10%, 15%, and 20%). Simultaneous operation of exogenous growth regulators [microbialinoculum (MI), γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and salicylic acid (SA)] and PEG were implemented in seeds of Isatis indigotica.The effects of drought stress and the mitigation of exogenous substances were observed by statistics of seed germination potential,germination rate, hypocotyl length, and radicle length of each treatment. The effects of exogenous substances on the content ofalkaloids, crude protein and free amino acids in the leaves of Isatis indigotica grown in a greenhouse were determined after sprayingexogenous substances on the plants. The differences of germination potential, germination rate, hypocotyl length, and radicle lengthamong 15% PEG stress treatment, 10% PEG stress treatment and the control were significant (P<0.05). According to the predesignedgermination standard, the seeds did not germinate under 20% PEG stress treatment. When the PEG concentration was 15%, the resultsof seed germination potential and germination rate after adding MI were significantly different from those under stress alone (P<0.05).When exposed to 10% PEG stress, the supplementation of GABA led to a notable increase in radicle length of Isatis indigotica seeds,showing significant differences compared to other three treatments. The application of MI and GABA under 15% PEG stress resultedin a significant increase in the radicle and hypocotyl length of Isatis indigotica seeds compared to other two treatments. The contentof the total alkaloids in leaves of Isatis indigotica was significantly increased after spraying GABA. Meanwhile, the contents of crudeprotein and the total free amino acids were kept constant after spraying exogenous substances. Application of MI and GABA couldalleviate drought stress of Isatis indigotica. The content of the total alkaloids in leaves of Isatis indigotica could significantly increaseafter spraying GABA.

Different hydraulic strategies under drought stress between Fraxinus mandshurica and Larix gmelinii seedlings

Persistent and severe drought induced by global climate change causes tree mortality mainly due to the hydraulic imbalance of conduit systems,but the magnitude of injury may be species dependent.A water-exclusion experiment was carried out on seedlings of two tree species with distinct characteristics,i.e.,Fraxinus mandshurica and Larix gmelinii to examine hydraulic responses of leaf,stem,and root to drought stress.The two species displayed different hydraulic strategies and related traits in response to drought stress.L.gmelinii reduced its leaf hydraulic conductance by quick stomatal closure and a slow decline in leaf water potential,with a more isohydric stomatal regulation to maintain its water status.In contrast,F.mandshurica was more anisohydric with a negative stomatal safety margin,exhibiting strong resistance to embolism in stem and leafstem segmentation of hydraulic vulnerability to preserve the hydraulic integrity of stem.These differences in hydraulic behaviors and traits between the two species in response to drought stress provide a potential mechanism for their coexistence in temperate forests,including which in the forest modeling would improve our prediction of tree growth and distribution under future climate change.

H_(2)S-mediated balance regulation of stomatal and non-stomatal factors responding to drought stress in Chinese cabbage

Increased evidence has shown that hydrogen sulfide(H_(2)S),a novel gasotransmitter,could enhance drought resistance in plants by inducing stomatal closure,with concurrent enhancement of photosynthetic efficiency,but little is known about the mechanism behind this contradictory phenomenon.This study examined the regulating mechanism of H_(2)S in response to drought stress fromstomatal and non-stomatal factors in Chinese cabbage.The results showed that exogenous H_(2)S could increase the accumulation of photosynthetic pigments and alleviate the damage caused by drought stress.It also regulated the expression in transcriptional level and the activity of ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase(BrRuBisCO)under drought stress.The large subunit of BrRuBisCO was found to be modified by S-sulfhydration,which might be the reason for its increased enzyme activity.The fluxes of Cl^(−),K^(+),and H^(+)in the guard cells were detected by non-invasive micro-test techniques while under drought stress.The results indicated that H_(2)S signaling induced a transmembrane Cl^(−)and H^(+)efflux and inhibited K^(+)influx,and the Cl^(−)channel was the main responders for H_(2)S-regulated stomatal movement.In conclusion,H_(2)S signal not only activated the ion channel proteins located in the guard cell membrane to induce stomatal closure,but also regulated the transcriptional expression and the activity of RuBisCO,a non-stomatal factor to enhance the photosynthetic efficiency of leaves.There is therefore a beneficial balance between the regulation of H_(2)S signaling on stomatal factors and non-stomatal factors due to drought stress,which needs to be better understood to apply it practically to increase crop yields.

Overexpression of MdFRK2 enhances apple drought resistance by promoting carbohydrate metabolism and root growth under drought stress

Soluble sugars function not only as the energy and structural blocks supporting plants,but also as osmoregulators and signal molecules during plant adaptation to water deficit.Here,we investigated drought resistance in transgenic apple(Malus×domestica)overexpressing MdFRK2,a key gene regulating fructose content and sugar metabolism.There is no obvious phenotypic difference between MdFRK2-overexpressing transgenic plants and WT plants under the well-watered condition.However,the transgenic plants and the grafted plants using MdFRK2-overexpressing rootstock exhibited improved tolerance to drought stress.Overexpression of MdFRK2 significantly promoted the growth of root system under drought stress.RNA sequencing showed that under drought stress,genes involved in sugar metabolism,transcription regulation,signal transduction or hormone metabolism were differentially expressed in MdFRK2 transgenic plants.Consistent with the gene expression profile,the activities of enzyme(SDH,FRK and NI)involved in sugar metabolism in the roots of MdFRK2 transgenic plants were significantly higher than those of untransformed control plants after drought stress.Under drought stress,overexpression of MdFRK2 promoted the accumulation of IAA,and decreased the contents of ABA and CK in apple root system.In conclusion,these results suggest that MdFRK2 can promote the growth of apple roots under drought stress by regulating sugar metabolism and accumulation,hormone metabolism and signal transduction,and then resist drought stress.

Comparative genomic analysis of N6-methyladenosine regulators in nine rosaceae species and functional characterization in response to drought stress in pear

N 6-methylated adenine(m6 A)is an emerging epigenetic marker in eukaryotic organisms that plays an important role in biological functions and in enriching genetic information.m6 A exerts these functions via the dynamic interplay among m6 A writers,erasers,and readers.However,little is known about the underlying mechanisms of m6 A in plant growth and stress responses.Here,we identified 276 masked m6 A regulators from nine Rosaceae species(Pyrus bretschneideri,Pyrus betulifolia,Pyrus communis,Malus domestica,Fragaria vesca,Prunus avium,Prunus mume,Prunus persica,and Rubus occidentalis).We classified and named these genes in more detail based on phylogenetic and synteny analysis.The expansion of m6 A regulators in Maloideae was dated back to the recent whole-genome duplication(WGD)in Rosaceae.Based on the expression pattern analysis and gene structure analysis of m6 A regulators,m6 A was shown to be a significant factor in regulating plant development and resistance.In addition,PbrMTA1-silenced pear plants displayed significantly reduced drought tolerance and chlorophyll content,as well as increased electrolyte leakage and concentrations of malondialdehyde and H2 O2.

Rice Curled Its Leaves Either Adaxially or Abaxially to Combat Drought Stress

Leaf rolling(LR)is one of the defensive mechanisms that plants have developed against adverse environmental conditions.LR is a typical drought response,promoting drought resistance in various gramineae species,including wheat,maize,and rice.Rice cultivation faces the formidable challenge of water deprivation because of its high water requirements,which leads to drought-related symptoms in rice.LR is an important morphological characteristic that plays a key role in controlling water loss during water insufficiency,thereby regulating leaf area and stature,which are crucial agronomic traits determining yield criteria.Bulliform,sclerenchyma,mesophyll,and vascular bundles are the cells that engage in LR and commonly exhibit adaxial or abaxial types of rolling in rice.The specific genes linked to rolling,either adaxially or abaxially,are discussed here.In addition to the factors influencing LR,here is a short review of the morphological,physiological and molecular responses of this adaptation under drought stress.Moreover,this review highlights how LR combats the consequences of drought stress.The eco-physiological and molecular mechanisms underlying this morphological adaptation in rice should be further explored,as they might be useful in dealing with various degrees of drought tolerance.

Characteristics and expression of the TCP transcription factors family in Allium senescens reveal its potential roles in drought stress responses

Allium senescens,is an important economic and ecological grassland plant with drought-resistant characteristics.A TCP protein transcription factor is important in the regulation of plant development and adverse responses.However,the mechanism by which TCP transcription functions in drought resistance in Allium senescens is still not clear.Here,we obtained a total of 190,305 transcripts with 115,562 single gene clusters based on RNA-Seq sequencing of Allium senescens under drought stress.The total number of bases was 97,195,096 bp,and the average length was 841.06 bp.Furthermore,we found that there were eight genes of the TCP family that showed an upregulated expression trend under drought stress in Allium senescens.We carried out an investigation to determine the evolution and function of the AsTCP family and how they produce an effect in drought resistance.The 14 AsTCP genes were confirmed and divided into class I and class II containing CIN and CYC/TBI subfamilies,respectively.We also found that the expression of AsTCP17 was remarkably upregulated with drought treatment.Besides,the transformation of AsTCP17 in Arabidopsis revealed that the protective enzymes,namely polyphenol oxidase(POD)and superoxide dismutase(SOD),were increased by 0.4 and 0.8 times,respectively.Chlorophyll content was also increased,while the H2O2 and malondialdehyde(MDA)contents were decreased.Staining assays with 3,3′-diaminobenzidine(DAB)also suggested that the AsTCP17 downregulates reactive oxygen species(ROS)accumulation.In addition,overexpression of the AsTCP17 affected the accumulation of drought-related hormones in plants,and the synthesis of ABA.The expression of AtSVP and AtNCED3,related ABA synthesis pathway genes,indicated that the level of expression of AtSVP and AtNCED3 was obviously enhanced,with the overexpression of line 6 showing a 20.6-fold and 7.0-fold increase,respectively.Taken together,our findings systematically analyze the AsTCPs family at the transcriptome expression level in Allium senescens,and we also demonstrated that AsTCP17 protein,as a positive regulator,was involved in drought resistance of Allium senescens.In addition,our research contributes to the comprehensive understanding of the drought stress defense mechanism in herbaceous plants.

E3 ubiquitin ligase PbrATL18 is a positive factor in pear resistance to drought and Colletotrichum fructicola infection

The Arabidopsis Toxicos en Levadura(ATL)protein is a subfamily of the E3 ubiquitin ligases,which exists widely in plants and is extensively involved in plant growth and development.Although the ATL family has been identified in other species,such as Arabidopsis,Oryza sativa,and grapevine,few reports on pear ATL gene families have been reported.In this study,92 PbrATL genes were identified and analyzed from the Pyrus breschneideri genome.Motif analysis and phylogenetic tree generation divided them into nine subgroups,and chromosome localization analysis showed that the 92 PbrATL genes were distributed in 16 of 17 pear chromosomes.Transcriptome data and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction(qRT-PCR)experiments demonstrated that PbrATL18,PbrATL41,and PbrATL88 were involved in both pear drought resistance and Colletotrichum fructicola infection.In addition,Arabidopsis thaliana overexpressing PbrATL18 showed greater resistance to drought stress than the wild type(WT),and PbrATL18-silenced pear seedlings showed greater sensitivity to drought and C.fructicola infection than the controls.PbrATL18 regulated plant resistance by regulating chitinase(CHI),phenylalanine ammonia-lyase(PAL),polyphenol oxidase(PPO),catalase(CAT),peroxidase(POD),and superoxide dismutase(SOD)activities.This study provided a reference for further exploring the functions of the PbrATL gene in drought resistance and C.fructicola infection.

Rice E3 Ligase-Like Protein OsPIAL1 Positively Regulated the Drought Stress Response but Negatively Regulated the Salt Stress Response

Small ubiquitin-like modifier(SUMO)E3 ligases that facilitate the conjugation of SUMO proteins to target substrates contain an SP-RING domain which is like the RING domain found in ubiquitin E3 ligases.In this study,we isolated and characterized the Oryza sativa protein inhibitor of activated STAT like1(OsPIAL1)containing SP-RING domains,as the rice homolog of Arabidopsis PIALs.OsPIAL1 interacts with OsSUMO proteins but does not interact with rice SUMO-conjugating enzymes(OsSCEs).An analysis of transgenic rice plant shows that OsPIAL1 is involved in SUMO conjugation to SCEs but not in SUMO conjugation to substrates.In addition,this OsPIAL1 activity requires drought stress conditions.Expression profiles show that the OsPIAL1 gene is induced by only drought stress in the leaves,whereas it is repressed by ABA and abiotic stresses in the roots.Salt stress leads to the fastest decrease in OsPIAL1 transcripts in the roots.Furthermore,the stress experiments indicate that the transgenic rice plants overexpressing OsPIAL1 exhibit a drought stress-tolerant phenotype but a salt stress hypersensitive phenotype.Our results and those from Arabidopsis pial mutants suggest that PIALs act as a positive regulator in the drought stress response but as a negative regulator in the salt stress response.

Melatonin Promotes Rice Seed Germination under Drought Stress by Regulating Antioxidant Capacity

Drought stress is a serious threat to the germination of plant seeds and the growth of seedlings.Melatonin has been proven to play an important role in alleviating plant stress.However,its effect on seed germination under drought conditions is still poorly understood.Therefore,we studied the effects of melatonin on rice seed germination and physiological characteristics under drought stress.Rice seeds were treated with different concentrations of melatonin(i.e.,0,20,100,and 500μM)and drought stress was simulated with 5%polyethylene glycol 6000(PEG6000).The results showed that 100μM melatonin can effectively improve the germination potential,rate and index;the vigor index of rice seeds;and the length of the shoot and root.In addition,that treatment also increased the activity of superoxide dismutase(SOD),peroxidase(POD)and catalase(CAT),and reduced the content of malondialdehyde(MDA).The grey relational grade between the shoot MDA content and the melatonin seed-soaking treatment was the highest,which could be useful for evaluating the effect of melatonin on drought tolerance.Two-way analysis of variance showed that the effect of single melatonin treatment on rice seeds was more significant than that of single drought stress and interaction treatment of drought and melatonin(p<0.05).The subordinate function results showed that 100μM melatonin significantly improved the germination and physiological indexes of rice seeds and effectively alleviated the adverse effects of drought stress on rice seedlings.The results helped to improve the understanding of the morphological and physiological involvement of melatonin in promoting seed germination and seedling development under drought stress.