MdcyMDH Overexpression Enhances Stress Tolerance in Apple

Researchers from Shandong Agricultural University, led by Qing-Jie Wang, studied the role of an apple cytosolic malate dehydrogenase gene (MdcyMDH) in the plants' tolerance to salt and cold stresses. The MdcyMDH gene expression was revealed to be induced by mild cold and salt treatments.

MdcyMDH-overexpressing apple plants possessed improved cold and salt tolerance compared to wild-type (WT) plants. Analysis revealed that MdcyMDH-overexpression largely altered some biological processes, including hormone signal transduction, photosynthesis, citrate cycle and oxidation–reduction. MdcyMDH-overexpression also elevated the plants' reducing power and reduced the level of reactive oxygen species, resulting in the plants' increased stress tolerance.

MdcyMDH conferred the transgenic apple plants a higher stress tolerance by improving the reducing power of plant cells. MdcyMDH could serve as a target gene to genetically engineer salt- and cold-tolerant trees.

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