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UrduResearchers from China Agricultural University and Shenzhen Polytechnic have published a study (DOI: 10.1093/hr/uhae040) in Horticulture Research on February 15, 2024, elucidating how the Tryptophan-rich sensory protein (TSPO) in roses degrades the ethylene receptor ETHYLENE RESPONSE 3 (RhETR3) to promote salt tolerance. This study highlights the intricate mechanisms of ethylene signaling and its impact on plant stress responses. The findings reveal how the degradation of RhETR3 enhances ethylene production, thereby boosting the plant’s ability to withstand salinity.
The research focused on the role of the TSPO protein and the ethylene receptor RhETR3 in regulating salt stress responses in roses. Under salt stress conditions, TSPO-mediated degradation of RhETR3 was observed, leading to increased ethylene production. This process enhanced the expression of genes involved in salt tolerance, such as ACC SYNTHASE1 (ACS1) and ACS2, which in turn boosted the production of the ethylene response factor RhERF98. This response facilitated the scavenging of reactive oxygen species (ROS), improving the plant’s overall tolerance to salt stress. Silencing of RhETR3 resulted in higher salt tolerance in rose plants, while silencing RhTSPO led to increased sensitivity to salinity. Overexpression studies confirmed that RhTSPO‘s role in promoting RhETR3 degradation is crucial for the salt tolerance mechanism. The study also demonstrated that co-overexpression of RhETR3 and RhTSPO could alleviate the negative effects of RhETR3 overexpression alone, highlighting the balancing act between these proteins in maintaining salt tolerance.
Dr. Xiaofeng Zhou, a senior researcher involved in the study, stated, “Our findings provide valuable insights into the ethylene signaling pathway and its critical role in enhancing salt tolerance in roses. This knowledge opens up new avenues for developing genetically modified plants that can thrive in saline environments, which is crucial for sustainable agriculture.”
The discovery has profound implications for horticulture and agriculture, offering a pathway to develop roses and potentially other plants that can flourish in saline soils. This advancement could revolutionize cultivation practices in regions affected by soil salinization, ensuring sustainable crop production and ecological balance. By manipulating the RhETR3-RhTSPO module, breeders can potentially create plants that maintain productivity even under harsh saline conditions, contributing to food security and environmental resilience.
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References
DOI
Original Source URL
https://doi.org/10.1093/hr/uhae040
Funding information
This work was supported by the General Project of Shenzhen Science and Technology and Innovation Commission (grant 6020330006K0, grant 21K270360620), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (grant 32202530), Jinning Flower Industry Science and Technology Service Group (202204BI090022), Consult of Flower Industry of Jinning District (202204BI090022).
About Horticulture Research
Horticulture Research is an open access journal of Nanjing Agricultural University and ranked number one in the Horticulture category of the Journal Citation Reports ™ from Clarivate, 2022. The journal is committed to publishing original research articles, reviews, perspectives, comments, correspondence articles and letters to the editor related to all major horticultural plants and disciplines, including biotechnology, breeding, cellular and molecular biology, evolution, genetics, inter-species interactions, physiology, and the origination and domestication of crops.
