Ectopic Expression of PtCYP714A3 from Populus trichocarpa Improves Salt Tolerance in Transgenic Rice

In Arabidopsis thaliana and Oryza sativa, the cytochrome P450 (CYP) 714 protein family represents a unique group of CYP monooxygenase, shoot-specific regulator in plant development through gibberellin deactivation. Chinese Academy of Sciences researchers, led by Cuiting Wang, characterized a homologue of rice and Arabidopsis CYP from Populus trichocarpa, PtCYP714A3.

PtCYP714A3 was found highly expressed in cambium–phloem tissues and was induced by salt stress in poplar. Ectopic expression of PtCYP714A3 in rice led to semi-dwarfed phenotype with enhanced tillering and reduced seed size. Transgenic lines with significant expression of PtCYP714A3 also accumulated lower GA level than wild-type (WT) plants with some GA biosynthesis genes significantly suppressed in the transgenic plants.

Transgenic rice plants also exhibited enhanced tolerance to salt and maintained more sodium in both shoot and root tissues under salinity stress. These results suggest a crucial role of PtCYP714A3 in shoot responses to salt toxicity in rice and provide basis for engineering of salt-tolerant crops.

To learn more on this study, read the full article on Plant Biotechnology Journal.