Osmotic stress severely limits plant growth and agricultural productivity, primarily by disrupting cellular water balance. Although the CBL-CIPK signaling network is recognized as a central mediator of abiotic stress responses, the functions of CiCIPKs from pecan (Carya illinoinensis) in osmotic stress tolerance remain largely unclear. In this study, two osmotic stress-responsive genes, CiCIPK8 and CiCIPK11, were cloned and functionally characterized via heterologous expression in Arabidopsis. Under mannitol-induced osmotic stress, transgenic lines exhibited significantly enhanced seed germination and root elongation compared with the wild-type (WT) plants. Physiological analyses revealed that overexpression of CiCIPK8 and CiCIPK11 improved osmotic stress tolerance by increasing antioxidant enzyme activities, reducing oxidative damage, and promoting the accumulation of compatible osmolytes, including proline, soluble proteins, and soluble sugars. Transcriptomic profiling, combined with quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) validation, demonstrated that CiCIPK8 and CiCIPK11 coordinately regulate multiple stress-responsive pathways, including plant hormone signal transduction, mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascades, cell wall dynamics, and metabolic regulation. In addition, yeast two-hybrid (Y2H) and bimolecular fluorescence complementation (BiFC) assays demonstrated that CiCIPK8 interacted with CiCBL1 and CiCBL8, whereas CiCIPK11 specifically interacted with CiCBL1, suggesting the involvement of a Ca2+-dependent CBL-CIPK signaling module. In conclusion, these findings reveal that CiCIPK8 and CiCIPK11 function as positive regulators of osmotic stress tolerance by integrating ROS scavenging, osmotic adjustment, and transcriptional reprogramming. This study provides valuable insights into stress signaling in pecan and offers candidate targets for the molecular breeding of osmotic stress-tolerant woody crops.
Ming-Wei Wang, Hong-Yu Shao, Wei-Hua Jin et al.· Plant physiology and biochem...· 0 citations
Triacylglycerol (TAG) accumulation and abiotic stress tolerance are critical for woody oil crop productivity, yet their coordination remains poorly understood. Here, we characterized CcDGAT1, a diacylglycerol acyltransferase 1 gene from hickory (Carya cathayensis) that links oil accumulation with aluminum (Al) tolerance. CcDGAT1 was highly expressed in developing kernels and vegetative tissues and was strongly induced by Al stress. CcDGAT1 overexpression increased total oil content and unsaturated fatty acid levels and enhanced Al tolerance, as shown by improved membrane integrity, root growth, and biomass. Under Al stress, CcDGAT1 overexpression promoted the accumulation of 18:2/18:3‐containing TAGs while reducing 18:2/18:3‐enriched membrane lipid pools. Consistent with this protective role, transient silencing of CcDGAT1 in hickory roots aggravated Al‐induced lipid peroxidation and electrolyte leakage. Dual‐luciferase, yeast one‐hybrid, and electrophoretic mobility shift assays demonstrated that CcATML1 and CcWRKY11a directly activate CcDGAT1 transcription. Overexpression of these transcription factors increased CcDGAT1 expression, fatty acid content, membrane integrity, and Al tolerance. Together, these findings establish CcDGAT1 as a functional oil‐promoting DGAT1 in hickory and support a model in which CcDGAT1‐associated lipid remodeling contributes to Al‐stress protection. The CcATML1/CcWRKY11a‐CcDGAT1 module further provides a transcriptional framework for linking lipid metabolism with stress resilience in woody oil crops.
Shan Zheng, Wenchao Chen, Jiaqi Zhang et al.· New Phytologist· 0 citations
This study systematically characterized the BBX family in T. grandis for the first time and identified key drought-responsive genes, providing valuable resources for drought-tolerant molecular breeding of this economically important gymnosperm.
Wei-Jie Chen, Xuanzi Zhang, Xiao Liu et al.· Horticulturae· 1 citation
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