Ethylene responsive factor34 mediates stress‐induced leaf senescence by regulating salt stress‐responsive genes. (2nd April 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Park, Sung‐Jin; Park, Sanghoon; Kim, Yongmin; Hyeon, Do Young; Park, Hyunsoo; Jeong, Junyong; Jeong, Ukcheol; Yoon, Yeong Seon; You, Daesang; Kwak, Junmin; Timilsina, Rupak; Hwang, Daehee; Kim, Jeongsik; Woo, Hye Ryun
• Is Part Of: Plant, cell and environment. Volume 45:Number 6(2022)
• Page Start: 1719
• Page End: 1733
• Publication Date: 2022-04-02
• Subjects: Arabidopsis -- ERF34 -- leaf senescence -- salt stress tolerance; Plant physiology -- Periodicals; Plant cells and tissues -- Periodicals; Plant communities -- Periodicals; 581.105
• DOI: 10.1111/pce.14317
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0140-7791

Abstract

Abstract: Leaf senescence proceeds with age but is modulated by various environmental stresses and hormones. Salt stress is one of the most well‐known environmental stresses that accelerate leaf senescence. However, the molecular mechanisms that integrate salt stress signalling with leaf senescence programmes remain elusive. In this study, we characterised the role of ETHYLENE RESPONSIVE FACTOR34 (ERF34), an Arabidopsis APETALA2 (AP2)/ERF family transcription factor, in leaf senescence. ERF34 was differentially expressed under various leaf senescence‐inducing conditions, and negatively regulated leaf senescence induced by age, dark, and salt stress. ERF34 also promoted salt stress tolerance at different stages of the plant life cycle such as seed germination and vegetative growth. Transcriptome analysis revealed that the overexpression of ERF34 increased the transcript levels of salt stress‐responsive genes including COLD‐REGULATED15A (COR15A), EARLY RESPONSIVE TO DEHYDRATION10 (ERD10), and RESPONSIVE TO DESICCATION29A (RD29A) . Moreover, ERF34 directly bound to ERD10 and RD29A promoters and activated their expression. Our findings indicate that ERF34 plays a key role in the convergence of the salt stress response with the leaf senescence programmes, and is a potential candidate for crop improvement, particularly by enhancing salt stress tolerance. Summary statement: ERF34 negatively regulates salt stress‐induced leaf senescence by directly activating the expression of ERD10 and RD29A in Arabidopsis .