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Loss of salt tolerance during tomato domestication conferred by variation in a Na + /K + transporter
Author(s) -
Wang Zhen,
Hong Yechun,
Zhu Guangtao,
Li Yumei,
Niu Qingfeng,
Yao Juanjuan,
Hua Kai,
Bai Jinjuan,
Zhu Yingfang,
Shi Huazhong,
Huang Sanwen,
Zhu JianKang
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
the embo journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 7.484
H-Index - 392
eISSN - 1460-2075
pISSN - 0261-4189
DOI - 10.15252/embj.2019103256
Subject(s) - biology , transporter , variation (astronomy) , salt (chemistry) , genetics , botany , gene , physics , chemistry , astrophysics
Domestication has resulted in reduced salt tolerance in tomato. To identify the genetic components causing this deficiency, we performed a genome‐wide association study ( GWAS ) for root Na + /K + ratio in a population consisting of 369 tomato accessions with large natural variations. The most significant variations associated with root Na + /K + ratio were identified within the gene Sl HAK 20 encoding a member of the clade IV HAK / KUP / KT transporters. We further found that Sl HAK 20 transports Na + and K + and regulates Na + and K + homeostasis under salt stress conditions. A variation in the coding sequence of Sl HAK 20 was found to be the causative variant associated with Na + /K + ratio and confer salt tolerance in tomato. Knockout mutations in tomato Sl HAK 20 and the rice homologous genes resulted in hypersensitivity to salt stress. Together, our study uncovered a previously unknown molecular mechanism of salt tolerance responsible for the deficiency in salt tolerance in cultivated tomato varieties. Our findings provide critical information for molecular breeding to improve salt tolerance in tomato and other crops.