Gibberellin-Mediated Sensitivity of Rice Roots to Aluminum Stress

Aluminum toxicity poses a significant constraint on crop production in acidic soils. While phytohormones are recognized for their pivotal role in mediating plant responses to aluminum stress, the specific involvement of gibberellin (GA) in regulating aluminum tolerance remains unexplored. In this st...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Long Lu, Xinyu Chen, Qinyan Tan, Wenqian Li, Yanyan Sun, Zaoli Zhang, Yuanyuan Song, Rensen Zeng
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-02-01
Series:Plants
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/13/4/543
Description
Summary:Aluminum toxicity poses a significant constraint on crop production in acidic soils. While phytohormones are recognized for their pivotal role in mediating plant responses to aluminum stress, the specific involvement of gibberellin (GA) in regulating aluminum tolerance remains unexplored. In this study, we demonstrate that external GA exacerbates the inhibitory impact of aluminum stress on root growth of rice seedlings, concurrently promoting reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation. Furthermore, rice plants overexpressing the GA synthesis gene <i>SD1</i> exhibit enhanced sensitivity to aluminum stress. In contrast, the <i>slr1</i> gain-of-function mutant, characterized by impeded GA signaling, displays enhanced tolerance to aluminum stress, suggesting the negative regulatory role of GA in rice resistance to aluminum-induced toxicity. We also reveal that GA application suppresses the expression of crucial aluminum tolerance genes in rice, including <i>Al resistance transcription factor 1</i> (<i>ART1</i>), <i>Nramp aluminum transporter 1</i> (<i>OsNramp4</i>), and <i>Sensitive to Aluminum 1</i> (<i>SAL1</i>). Conversely, the <i>slr1</i> mutant exhibits up-regulated expression of these genes compared to the wild type. In summary, our results shed light on the inhibitory effect of GA in rice resistance to aluminum stress, contributing to a theoretical foundation for unraveling the intricate mechanisms of plant hormones in regulating aluminum tolerance.
ISSN:2223-7747