The WRKY transcription factors PtrWRKY18 and PtrWRKY35 promote Melampsora resistance in Populus.
WRKY transcription factors play important roles in response to diverse environmental stresses, but exact functions of these proteins in poplar defense are still largely unknown. In a previous study, we have shown that poplar WRKY89 is induced by salicylic acid (SA) treatment and plays an important role in resistance against fungi in transgenic poplars. Here, we determined an increase in transcript levels of Group IIa WRKY members in transgenic poplars overexpressing WRKY89 using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction analysis. Yeast one-hybrid assay showed that PtrWRKY18 and PtrWRKY35 were potential target genes of WRKY89. Furthermore, we demonstrated that PtrWRKY18 and PtrWRKY35 were localized in the nucleus, and exhibited no transcription activation activity. Constitutive overexpression of PtrWRKY18 and PtrWRKY35 in poplars activated pathogenesis-related genes, and increased resistance to the biotrophic pathogen Melampsora. The results also provided support for the involvement of SA-mediated signaling in Melampsora resistance.
Key Laboratory of Eco-environments of Three Gorges Reservoir Region, Ministry of Education, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Transgenic Plant and Safety Control, Institute of Resources Botany, School of Life Sciences, Southwest University, No. 1, Tiansheng Road, Beibei, Chongqing 400715, China.|MOE Key Laboratory of Bio-Resources and Eco-Environment, College of Life Science, Sichuan University, No. 24, South Section 1, Yihuan Road, Chengdu 610065, China.
Yuanzhong
Y
Jiang
Key Laboratory of Eco-environments of Three Gorges Reservoir Region, Ministry of Education, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Transgenic Plant and Safety Control, Institute of Resources Botany, School of Life Sciences, Southwest University, No. 1, Tiansheng Road, Beibei, Chongqing 400715, China.
Li
L
Guo
Key Laboratory of Adaptation and Evolution of Plateau Biota, Northwest Institute of Plateau Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, No. 23, Xinning Road, Xining, Qinghai 810008, China.|School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Qinghai University for Nationalities, No. 3, Bayi Mid Road, Xining, Qinghai 810007, China.
Xiaodong
X
Ma
Key Laboratory of Eco-environments of Three Gorges Reservoir Region, Ministry of Education, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Transgenic Plant and Safety Control, Institute of Resources Botany, School of Life Sciences, Southwest University, No. 1, Tiansheng Road, Beibei, Chongqing 400715, China.
Xin
X
Zhao
Key Laboratory of Eco-environments of Three Gorges Reservoir Region, Ministry of Education, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Transgenic Plant and Safety Control, Institute of Resources Botany, School of Life Sciences, Southwest University, No. 1, Tiansheng Road, Beibei, Chongqing 400715, China.
Bo
B
Jiao
Key Laboratory of Eco-environments of Three Gorges Reservoir Region, Ministry of Education, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Transgenic Plant and Safety Control, Institute of Resources Botany, School of Life Sciences, Southwest University, No. 1, Tiansheng Road, Beibei, Chongqing 400715, China.|Key Laboratory of Adaptation and Evolution of Plateau Biota, Northwest Institute of Plateau Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, No. 23, Xinning Road, Xining, Qinghai 810008, China.
Chaofeng
C
Li
Key Laboratory of Eco-environments of Three Gorges Reservoir Region, Ministry of Education, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Transgenic Plant and Safety Control, Institute of Resources Botany, School of Life Sciences, Southwest University, No. 1, Tiansheng Road, Beibei, Chongqing 400715, China.
Keming
K
Luo
D001487:Basidiomycota / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D060467:Disease Resistance / Q000235:genetics*; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; D010935:Plant Diseases / Q000235:genetics* / Q000382:microbiology; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D030821:Plants, Genetically Modified / Q000235:genetics / Q000382:microbiology; D032107:Populus / Q000235:genetics* / Q000382:microbiology; D020156:Salicylic Acid; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*
D010940:Plant Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors; D020156:Salicylic Acid
CRISPER/Cas9; Populus; WRKY transcription factor; fungal pathogen; plant defense