Ectopically expressing MdPIP1;3, an aquaporin gene, increased fruit size and enhanced drought tolerance of transgenic tomatoes
Abstract Background Water deficit severely reduces apple growth and production, is detrimental to fruit quality and size. This problem is exacerbated as global warming is implicated in producing more severe drought stress. Thus water-efficiency has becomes the major target for apple breeding. A desi...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2017-12-01
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| Series: | BMC Plant Biology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12870-017-1212-2 |
| _version_ | 1811207998972887040 |
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| author | Lin Wang Qing-Tian Li Qiong Lei Chao Feng Xiaodong Zheng Fangfang Zhou Lingzi Li Xuan Liu Zhi Wang Jin Kong |
| author_facet | Lin Wang Qing-Tian Li Qiong Lei Chao Feng Xiaodong Zheng Fangfang Zhou Lingzi Li Xuan Liu Zhi Wang Jin Kong |
| author_sort | Lin Wang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Water deficit severely reduces apple growth and production, is detrimental to fruit quality and size. This problem is exacerbated as global warming is implicated in producing more severe drought stress. Thus water-efficiency has becomes the major target for apple breeding. A desired apple tree can absorb and transport water efficiently, which not only confers improved drought tolerance, but also guarantees fruit size for higher income returns. Aquaporins, as water channels, control water transportation across membranes and can regulate water flow by changing their amount and activity. The exploration of molecular mechanism of water efficiency and the gene wealth will pave a way for molecular breeding of drought tolerant apple tree. Results In the current study, we screened out a drought inducible aquaporin gene MdPIP1;3, which specifically enhanced its expression during fruit expansion in ‘Fuji’ apple (Malus domestica Borkh. cv. Red Fuji). It localized on plasma membranes and belonged to PIP1 subfamily. The tolerance to drought stress enhanced in transgenic tomato plants ectopically expressing MdPIP1;3, showing that the rate of losing water in isolated transgenic leaves was slower than wild type, and stomata of transgenic plants closed sensitively to respond to drought compared with wild type. Besides, length and diameter of transgenic tomato fruits increased faster than wild type, and in final, fruit sizes and fresh weights of transgenic tomatoes were bigger than wild type. Specially, in cell levels, fruit cell size from transgenic tomatoes was larger than wild type, showing that cell number per mm2 in transgenic fruits was less than wild type. Conclusions Altogether, ectopically expressing MdPIP1;3 enhanced drought tolerance of transgenic tomatoes partially via reduced water loss controlled by stomata closure in leaves. In addition, the transgenic tomato fruits are larger and heavier with larger cells via more efficient water transportation across membranes. Our research will contribute to apple production, by engineering apples with big fruits via efficient water transportation when well watered and enhanced drought tolerance in transgenic apples under water deficit. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-12T04:14:35Z |
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| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1471-2229 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-12T04:14:35Z |
| publishDate | 2017-12-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Plant Biology |
| spelling | doaj.art-9ea2973c36654e1ba01832338ad43d812022-12-22T03:48:26ZengBMCBMC Plant Biology1471-22292017-12-0117111310.1186/s12870-017-1212-2Ectopically expressing MdPIP1;3, an aquaporin gene, increased fruit size and enhanced drought tolerance of transgenic tomatoesLin Wang0Qing-Tian Li1Qiong Lei2Chao Feng3Xiaodong Zheng4Fangfang Zhou5Lingzi Li6Xuan Liu7Zhi Wang8Jin Kong9College of Horticulture, China Agricultural UniversityCollege of Horticulture, China Agricultural UniversityCollege of Horticulture, China Agricultural UniversityCollege of Horticulture, China Agricultural UniversityCollege of Horticulture, China Agricultural UniversityCollege of Horticulture, China Agricultural UniversityCollege of Horticulture, China Agricultural UniversityCollege of Horticulture, China Agricultural UniversityCollege of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural UniversityCollege of Horticulture, China Agricultural UniversityAbstract Background Water deficit severely reduces apple growth and production, is detrimental to fruit quality and size. This problem is exacerbated as global warming is implicated in producing more severe drought stress. Thus water-efficiency has becomes the major target for apple breeding. A desired apple tree can absorb and transport water efficiently, which not only confers improved drought tolerance, but also guarantees fruit size for higher income returns. Aquaporins, as water channels, control water transportation across membranes and can regulate water flow by changing their amount and activity. The exploration of molecular mechanism of water efficiency and the gene wealth will pave a way for molecular breeding of drought tolerant apple tree. Results In the current study, we screened out a drought inducible aquaporin gene MdPIP1;3, which specifically enhanced its expression during fruit expansion in ‘Fuji’ apple (Malus domestica Borkh. cv. Red Fuji). It localized on plasma membranes and belonged to PIP1 subfamily. The tolerance to drought stress enhanced in transgenic tomato plants ectopically expressing MdPIP1;3, showing that the rate of losing water in isolated transgenic leaves was slower than wild type, and stomata of transgenic plants closed sensitively to respond to drought compared with wild type. Besides, length and diameter of transgenic tomato fruits increased faster than wild type, and in final, fruit sizes and fresh weights of transgenic tomatoes were bigger than wild type. Specially, in cell levels, fruit cell size from transgenic tomatoes was larger than wild type, showing that cell number per mm2 in transgenic fruits was less than wild type. Conclusions Altogether, ectopically expressing MdPIP1;3 enhanced drought tolerance of transgenic tomatoes partially via reduced water loss controlled by stomata closure in leaves. In addition, the transgenic tomato fruits are larger and heavier with larger cells via more efficient water transportation across membranes. Our research will contribute to apple production, by engineering apples with big fruits via efficient water transportation when well watered and enhanced drought tolerance in transgenic apples under water deficit.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12870-017-1212-2AquaporinMdPIP1;3Water transportationFruit sizeDrought toleranceStomata closure |
| spellingShingle | Lin Wang Qing-Tian Li Qiong Lei Chao Feng Xiaodong Zheng Fangfang Zhou Lingzi Li Xuan Liu Zhi Wang Jin Kong Ectopically expressing MdPIP1;3, an aquaporin gene, increased fruit size and enhanced drought tolerance of transgenic tomatoes BMC Plant Biology Aquaporin MdPIP1;3 Water transportation Fruit size Drought tolerance Stomata closure |
| title | Ectopically expressing MdPIP1;3, an aquaporin gene, increased fruit size and enhanced drought tolerance of transgenic tomatoes |
| title_full | Ectopically expressing MdPIP1;3, an aquaporin gene, increased fruit size and enhanced drought tolerance of transgenic tomatoes |
| title_fullStr | Ectopically expressing MdPIP1;3, an aquaporin gene, increased fruit size and enhanced drought tolerance of transgenic tomatoes |
| title_full_unstemmed | Ectopically expressing MdPIP1;3, an aquaporin gene, increased fruit size and enhanced drought tolerance of transgenic tomatoes |
| title_short | Ectopically expressing MdPIP1;3, an aquaporin gene, increased fruit size and enhanced drought tolerance of transgenic tomatoes |
| title_sort | ectopically expressing mdpip1 3 an aquaporin gene increased fruit size and enhanced drought tolerance of transgenic tomatoes |
| topic | Aquaporin MdPIP1;3 Water transportation Fruit size Drought tolerance Stomata closure |
| url | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12870-017-1212-2 |
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