Molecular mechanisms of salinity tolerance in rice

Salinity is one of the major abiotic stresses which impose constraints to plant growth and production.Rice(Oryza sativa L.)is one of the most important staple food crops and a model monocot plant.Its production is expanding into regions that are affected by soil salinity,requiring cultivars more tolerant to saline conditions.Understanding the molecular mechanisms of such tolerance could lay a foundation for varietal improvement of salt tolerance in rice.In spite of extensive studies exploring the mechanism of salt tolerance,there has been limited progress in breeding for increased salinity tolerance.In this review,we summarize the information about the major molecular mechanisms underlying salinity tolerance in rice and further discuss the limitations in breeding for salinity tolerance.We show that numerous gene families and interaction networks are involved in the regulation of rice responses to salinity,prompting a need for a comprehensive functional analysis.We also show that most studies are based on whole-plant level analyses with only a few reports focused on tissue-and/or cell-specific gene expression.More details of salt-responsive channel and transporter activities at tissue-and cell-specific level still need to be documented before these traits can be incorporated into elite rice germplasm.Thus,future studies should focus on diversity of available genetic resources and,particular,wild rice relatives,to reincorporate salinity tolerance traits lost during domestication.

Expression Analysis of Aldo-Keto Reductase 1 (AKR1) in Foxtail Millet (Setaria italica L.) Subjected to Abiotic Stresses

Foxtail millet (Setaria italica L.) is a drought-tolerant millet crop of arid and semi-arid regions. Aldo-keto reductases (AKRs) are significant part of plant defence mechanism, having an ability to confer multiple stress tolerance. In this study, AKR1 gene expression was studied in roots and leaves of foxtail millet subjected to different regimes of PEG- and NaCl-stress for seven days. The quantitative Real-time PCR expression analysis in both root and leaves showed upregulation of AKR1 gene during PEG and salt stress. A close correlation exits between expression of AKR1 gene and the rate of lipid peroxidation along with the retardation of growth. Tissue-specific differences were found in the AKR1 gene expression to the stress intensities studied. The reduction in root and shoot growth under both stress conditions were dependent on stress severity. The level of lipid peroxidation as indicated by MDA formation was significantly increased in roots and leaves along with increased stress levels. Finally, these findings support the early responsive nature of AKR1 gene and seem to be associated at least in part with its ability to contribute in antioxidant defence related pathways which could provide a better protection against oxidative stress under stress conditions.

Endocytic Trafficking towards the Vacuole Plays a Key Role in the Auxin Receptor SCF^TIR-Independent Mechanism of Lateral Root Formation in A. thaliana

Plants＇ developmental plasticity plays a pivotal role in responding to environmental conditions. One of the most plastic plant organs is the root system. Different environmental stimuli such as nutrients and water deficiency may induce lateral root formation to compensate for a low level of water and/or nutrients. It has been shown that the hor- mone auxin tunes lateral root development and components for its signaling pathway have been identified. Using chemi- cal biology, we discovered an Arabidopsis thaliana lateral root formation mechanism that is independent of the auxin receptor SCFTM. The bioactive compound Sortin2 increased lateral root occurrence by acting upstream from the morpho- logical marker of lateral root primordium formation, the mitotic activity. The compound did not display auxin activity. At the cellular level, Sortin2 accelerated endosomal trafficking, resulting in increased trafficking of plasma membrane recy- cling proteins to the vacuole. Sortin2 affected Late endosome/PVC/MVB trafficking and morphology. Combining Sortin2 with well-known drugs showed that endocytic trafficking of Late E/PVC/MVB towards the vacuole is pivotal for Sortin2- induced SCFTm-independent lateral root initiation. Our results revealed a distinctive role for endosomal trafficking in the promotion of lateral root formation via a process that does not rely on the auxin receptor complex SCFTM.

Proto Kranz-like leaf traits and cellular ionic regulation are associated with salinity tolerance in a halophytic wild rice

Species of wild rice(Oryza spp.)possess a wide range of stress tolerance traits that can be potentially utilized in breeding climate-resilient cultivated rice cultivars(Oryza sativa)thereby aiding global food security.In this study,we conducted a greenhouse trial to evaluate the salinity tolerance of six wild rice species,one cultivated rice cultivar(IR64)and one landrace(Pokkali)using a range of electrophysiological,imaging,and whole-plant physiological techniques.Three wild species(O.latifolia,O.officinalis and O.coarctata)were found to possess superior salinity stress tolerance.The underlying mechanisms,however,were strikingly different.Na+accumulation in leaves of O.latifolia,O.officinalis and O.coarctata were significantly higher than the tolerant landrace,Pokkali.Na+accumulation in mesophyll cells was only observed in O.coarctata,suggesting that O.officinalis and O.latifolia avoid Na+accumulation in mesophyll by allocating Na+to other parts of the leaf.The finding also suggests that O.coarctata might be able to employ Na+as osmolyte without affecting its growth.Further study of Na+allocation in leaves will be helpful to understand the mechanisms of Na+accumulation in these species.In addition,O.coarctata showed Proto Kranz-like leaf anatomy(enlarged bundle sheath cells and lower numbers of mesophyll cells),and higher expression of C4-related genes(e.g.,NADPME,PPDK)and was a clear outlier with respect to salinity tolerance among the studied wild and cultivated Oryza species.The unique phylogenetic relationship of O.coarctata with C4 grasses suggests the potential of this species for breeding rice with high photosynthetic rate under salinity stress in the future.