Back to Search Start Over

Functional characterization of malate dehydrogenase, HcMDH1, gene in enhancing abiotic stress tolerance in kenaf (Hibiscus cannabinus L.)

Authors :
Dengjie Luo
Zengqiang Li
Samavia Mubeen
Muzammal Rehman
Shan Cao
Caijin Wang
Jiao Yue
Jiao Pan
Gang Jin
Ru Li
Tao Chen
Peng Chen
Source :
Chemical and Biological Technologies in Agriculture, Vol 11, Iss 1, Pp 1-17 (2024)
Publication Year :
2024
Publisher :
SpringerOpen, 2024.

Abstract

Abstract Drought and salt stress are two important environmental factors that significantly restrict plant growth and reproduction. Malate dehydrogenase is essential to life as it is engaged in numerous physiological processes in cells, particularly those related to abiotic stress reactions. However, a complete understanding of MDH family members in kenaf is not clear yet. In this study, subcellular localization analysis and a yeast transcriptional activation assay revealed that HcMDH1 was localized in chloroplasts but had no transcriptional activation activity. When exposed to salt or drought stress, yeast cells expressing the HcMDH1 gene exhibit an increased survival rate. Overexpression of HcMDH1 in Arabidopsis increased seed germination rate and root growth when transgenic lines were exposed to varying concentrations of mannitol and NaCl. Subsequent physiological studies revealed that transgenic lines had higher concentrations of soluble carbohydrates, proline, and chlorophyll and lower concentrations of malondialdehyde (MDA) and reactive oxygen species (ROS). Furthermore, inhibiting HcMDH1 in kenaf using virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) decreased salt and drought tolerance due to elevated ROS and MDA levels. In these silenced lines, the expression of six essential genes engaged in stress-resistance and photosynthesis, namely HcGAPDH, HcGLYK, HcFBA, HcFBPase, HcPGA, and HcLSD, is significantly altered under salt and drought stress. In summary, HcMDH1 is a complex and positive regulatory gene that plays a key role in regulating chlorophyll content, antioxidant enzyme activity and osmotic regulation under salt and drought stress, which may have implications for kenaf transgenic breeding. Graphical Abstract

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
21965641
Volume :
11
Issue :
1
Database :
Directory of Open Access Journals
Journal :
Chemical and Biological Technologies in Agriculture
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
edsdoj.96c8dcd02cab48618ce4e123e56e5cf6
Document Type :
article
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1186/s40538-024-00670-1