title: Carotenoid deficiency impairs ABA and IAA biosynthesis and differentially affects drought and cold tolerance in rice.
abstract: Plant responses to abiotic stresses are coordinated by arrays of growth and developmental programs. Phytohormones such as abscisic acid (ABA) and indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) play critical roles in developmental progresses and environmental responses through complex signalling networks. However, crosstalk between the two hormones at the biosynthesis level remains largely unknown. Here, we report that carotenoid-deficient mutants (phs1, phs2, phs3-1, phs4, and PDS-RNAi transgenic rice) were impaired in the biosynthesis of ABA and IAA. Under drought conditions, phs3-1 and PDS-RNAi transgenic rice showed larger stomata aperture and earlier wilting compared to the wild type at both seedling and panicle developmental stage. Interestingly, these carotenoid-deficient lines showed increased cold resistance, which was likely due to the combined effects of reduced IAA content, alleviated oxidative damage and decreased membrane penetrability. Furthermore, we found that IAA content was significantly declined in rice treated with fluridone (a carotenoid and ABA biosynthesis inhibitor), and expression of auxin synthesis and metabolism-related genes were altered in the fluridone-treated rice similar to that in the carotenoid-deficient mutants. In addition, exogenous IAA, but not ABA, could restore the dwarf phenotype of phs3-1 and PDS-RNAi transgenic rice. These results support a crosstalk between ABA and IAA at the biosynthesis level, and this crosstalk is involved in development and differentially affects drought and cold tolerance in rice.
authors.affiliation: National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement and National Center of Plant Gene Research (Wuhan), Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China.
authors.forename: Hao
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Du
authors.forename: Nai
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Yu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Xianghua
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Jinghua
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Xiao
authors.forename: Lizhong
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Xiong
mesh_terms: D000040:Abscisic Acid / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D002338:Carotenoids / Q000032:analysis / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003080:Cold Temperature; D055864:Droughts; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers / Q000378:metabolism; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; D006540:Herbicides; D007210:Indoleacetic Acids / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D009154:Mutation; D020411:Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis; D012275:Oryza / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D010641:Phenotype; D010937:Plant Growth Regulators / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D054046:Plant Stomata / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D018526:Plant Transpiration; D030821:Plants, Genetically Modified; D011728:Pyridones / Q000032:analysis / Q000494:pharmacology; D034622:RNA Interference; D036226:Seedlings / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D013312:Stress, Physiological
chemical_list: D016166:Free Radical Scavengers; D006540:Herbicides; D007210:Indoleacetic Acids; D010937:Plant Growth Regulators; D010940:Plant Proteins; D011728:Pyridones; D002338:Carotenoids; C013351:fluridone; D000040:Abscisic Acid