Overexpression of an aquaporin gene PvPIP2;9 improved biomass yield, protein content, drought tolerance and water use efficiency in switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.)
Abstract Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) is a prime candidate for non‐grain‐based bioenergy feedstock production. Improved drought tolerance and higher water use efficiency (WUE) are important for its successful field establishment and production, especially on marginal lands. Aquaporins are key c...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2020-11-01
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| Series: | GCB Bioenergy |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1111/gcbb.12751 |
| _version_ | 1818154352163946496 |
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| author | Jing Zhang Wuwu Wen Hui Li Qiyu Lu Bin Xu Bingru Huang |
| author_facet | Jing Zhang Wuwu Wen Hui Li Qiyu Lu Bin Xu Bingru Huang |
| author_sort | Jing Zhang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) is a prime candidate for non‐grain‐based bioenergy feedstock production. Improved drought tolerance and higher water use efficiency (WUE) are important for its successful field establishment and production, especially on marginal lands. Aquaporins are key channels and regulators for water transportation and maintenance of cellular water status. In this study, the functional role of an aquaporin gene, PvPIP2;9, in switchgrass was studied. Expression of PvPIP2;9 was regulated by diurnal oscillation and osmotic stress. Constitutive over‐expressing PvPIP2;9 in switchgrass significantly improved its leaf length, plant height, aboveground biomass and biomass protein contents under both drought‐ and non‐stressed conditions, and also resulted in higher cellulose content in drought‐stressed transgenic than wild‐type plants. Under 21 days of drought treatment, transgenic plants showed less electrolyte leakage rates, but higher relative water contents, photochemical efficiencies, chlorophyll contents and WUE, indicating that PvPIP2;9 positively regulated plant drought tolerance. Moreover, expression patterns of all 14 switchgrass PIP2 subfamily genes were checked during the drought treatment, and the result showed that over‐expressing PvPIP2;9 also affected transcript levels of most other PIP2 genes. Together, this study showed that improved biomass yield, drought tolerance and higher WUE can be achieved by manipulating the expression of PvPIP2;9 and also suggested PIP2 subfamily genes were transcriptionally regulated in a coordinated manner, which can be used for potential targets for crop drought resistance breeding efforts. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-11T14:25:08Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-8b0dcd9ed3be4305b56dc74965df7ff3 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1757-1693 1757-1707 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-11T14:25:08Z |
| publishDate | 2020-11-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | GCB Bioenergy |
| spelling | doaj.art-8b0dcd9ed3be4305b56dc74965df7ff32022-12-22T01:02:44ZengWileyGCB Bioenergy1757-16931757-17072020-11-01121197999110.1111/gcbb.12751Overexpression of an aquaporin gene PvPIP2;9 improved biomass yield, protein content, drought tolerance and water use efficiency in switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.)Jing Zhang0Wuwu Wen1Hui Li2Qiyu Lu3Bin Xu4Bingru Huang5College of Agro‐Grassland Science Nanjing Agricultural University Nanjing PR ChinaCollege of Agro‐Grassland Science Nanjing Agricultural University Nanjing PR ChinaCollege of Agro‐Grassland Science Nanjing Agricultural University Nanjing PR ChinaCollege of Agro‐Grassland Science Nanjing Agricultural University Nanjing PR ChinaCollege of Agro‐Grassland Science Nanjing Agricultural University Nanjing PR ChinaDepartment of Plant Biology and Pathology Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey New Brunswick NJ USAAbstract Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) is a prime candidate for non‐grain‐based bioenergy feedstock production. Improved drought tolerance and higher water use efficiency (WUE) are important for its successful field establishment and production, especially on marginal lands. Aquaporins are key channels and regulators for water transportation and maintenance of cellular water status. In this study, the functional role of an aquaporin gene, PvPIP2;9, in switchgrass was studied. Expression of PvPIP2;9 was regulated by diurnal oscillation and osmotic stress. Constitutive over‐expressing PvPIP2;9 in switchgrass significantly improved its leaf length, plant height, aboveground biomass and biomass protein contents under both drought‐ and non‐stressed conditions, and also resulted in higher cellulose content in drought‐stressed transgenic than wild‐type plants. Under 21 days of drought treatment, transgenic plants showed less electrolyte leakage rates, but higher relative water contents, photochemical efficiencies, chlorophyll contents and WUE, indicating that PvPIP2;9 positively regulated plant drought tolerance. Moreover, expression patterns of all 14 switchgrass PIP2 subfamily genes were checked during the drought treatment, and the result showed that over‐expressing PvPIP2;9 also affected transcript levels of most other PIP2 genes. Together, this study showed that improved biomass yield, drought tolerance and higher WUE can be achieved by manipulating the expression of PvPIP2;9 and also suggested PIP2 subfamily genes were transcriptionally regulated in a coordinated manner, which can be used for potential targets for crop drought resistance breeding efforts.https://doi.org/10.1111/gcbb.12751aquaporincellulosedroughtfeedstockprotein contentwater use efficiency |
| spellingShingle | Jing Zhang Wuwu Wen Hui Li Qiyu Lu Bin Xu Bingru Huang Overexpression of an aquaporin gene PvPIP2;9 improved biomass yield, protein content, drought tolerance and water use efficiency in switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) GCB Bioenergy aquaporin cellulose drought feedstock protein content water use efficiency |
| title | Overexpression of an aquaporin gene PvPIP2;9 improved biomass yield, protein content, drought tolerance and water use efficiency in switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) |
| title_full | Overexpression of an aquaporin gene PvPIP2;9 improved biomass yield, protein content, drought tolerance and water use efficiency in switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) |
| title_fullStr | Overexpression of an aquaporin gene PvPIP2;9 improved biomass yield, protein content, drought tolerance and water use efficiency in switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) |
| title_full_unstemmed | Overexpression of an aquaporin gene PvPIP2;9 improved biomass yield, protein content, drought tolerance and water use efficiency in switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) |
| title_short | Overexpression of an aquaporin gene PvPIP2;9 improved biomass yield, protein content, drought tolerance and water use efficiency in switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) |
| title_sort | overexpression of an aquaporin gene pvpip2 9 improved biomass yield protein content drought tolerance and water use efficiency in switchgrass panicum virgatum l |
| topic | aquaporin cellulose drought feedstock protein content water use efficiency |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1111/gcbb.12751 |
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