Knockdown of GhIQD31 and GhIQD32 increases drought and salt stress sensitivity in Gossypium hirsutum

Publication date: Available online 24 September 2019Source: Plant Physiology and BiochemistryAuthor(s): Xiu Yang, Joy Nyangasi Kirungu, Richard Odongo Magwanga, Yuanchao Xu, Lu Pu, Zhongli Zhou, Yuqing Hou, Xiaoyan Cai, Kunbo Wang, Fang LiuAbstractDrought, salinity and cold stresses have a major impact on cotton production, thus identification and utilization of plant genes vital for plant improvement Whole-genome identification and functional characterizations of the IQ67-domain (IQD) protein family was carried out in which 148, 77, and 79 IQD genes were identified in Gossypium hirsutum, G. raimondii, and G. arboreum. The entire IQD proteins had varied physiochemical properties, however; their grand hydropathy values were negative, which demonstrated that the proteins were hydrophilic, a property common among the proteins encoded by various stresses responsive genes, such as the late embryogenesis abundant (LEA) proteins. The IQD proteins were predicted to be majorly sublocalized in the nucleus; moreover, various cis-regulatory elements with higher role in enhancing abiotic stress tolerance were detected. RNA-seq and RT-qPCR analysis revealed two key genes, Gh_D06G0014 and Gh_A09G1608 with significantly higher upregulation across the various tissues under drought, salt and cold stress. Knockdown of the two genes negatively affected the ability of G. hirsutum to tolerate the effects of the three stress factors, being all the antioxidant assayed were significantly low concentr...
Source: Plant Physiology and Biochemistry - Category: Biochemistry Source Type: research