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Soybean NAC transcription factors promote abiotic stress tolerance and lateral root formation in transgenic plants
Author(s) -
Hao YuJun,
Wei Wei,
Song QingXin,
Chen HaoWei,
Zhang YuQin,
Wang Fang,
Zou HongFeng,
Lei Gang,
Tian AiGuo,
Zhang WanKe,
Ma Biao,
Zhang JinSong,
Chen ShouYi
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
the plant journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.058
H-Index - 269
eISSN - 1365-313X
pISSN - 0960-7412
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-313x.2011.04687.x
Subject(s) - biology , arabidopsis , lateral root , gene , abiotic stress , transcription factor , transgene , microbiology and biotechnology , auxin , repressor , genetics , mutant
Summary NAC transcription factors play important roles in plant growth, development and stress responses. Previously, we identified multiple NAC genes in soybean ( Glycine max ). Here, we identify the roles of two genes, GmNAC11 and GmNAC20 , in stress responses and other processes. The two genes were differentially induced by multiple abiotic stresses and plant hormones, and their transcripts were abundant in roots and cotyledons. Both genes encoded proteins that localized to the nucleus and bound to the core DNA sequence CGT[G/A]. In the protoplast assay system, GmNAC11 acts as a transcriptional activator, whereas GmNAC20 functions as a mild repressor; however, the C‐terminal end of GmANC20 has transcriptional activation activity. Over‐expression of GmNAC20 enhances salt and freezing tolerance in transgenic Arabidopsis plants; however, GmNAC11 over‐expression only improves salt tolerance. Over‐expression of GmNAC20 also promotes lateral root formation. GmNAC20 may regulate stress tolerance through activation of the DREB/CBF–COR pathway, and may control lateral root development by altering auxin signaling‐related genes. GmNAC11 probably regulates DREB1A and other stress‐related genes. The roles of the two GmNAC genes in stress tolerance were further analyzed in soybean transgenic hairy roots. These results provide a basis for genetic manipulation to improve the agronomic traits of important crops.