Analysis of the Role of the Drought-Induced Gene DRI15 and Salinity-Induced Gene SI1 in Alternanthera philoxeroides Plasticity Using a Virus-Based Gene Silencing Tool

Frontiers in Plant Science

Zhen Song¹  Chao Bai¹  Guo-Liang Zhang¹  Wei-Dong Fu¹  Zhen-Nan Zhang²  Peng Wang²  Le Wang²  Jia-He Wu²  Qiang Fan² 

[1] Institute of Environment and Sustainable Development in Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Agricultural SciencesBeijing, China;The State Key Laboratory of Plant Genomics, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijing, China;

关键词: Alternanthera philoxeroides;    virus induced gene silencing (VIGS);    drought stress;    salinity stress;    pgR107 VIGS vector;   

DOI  :  10.3389/fpls.2017.01579

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

Alternanthera philoxeroides is a notoriously invasive weed that can readily adapt to different environmental conditions. Control of this weed is difficult, and it spreads easily and causes damage to native habitats and agriculture. In this study, our goal was to investigate the molecular mechanisms that lead to the ability of A. philoxeroides to invade new habitats, to adapt to environmental stresses, and to cause damage. We developed a simple and highly effective potato virus X-based virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) approach. The VIGS approach was first used to silence the phytoene desaturase gene, which resulted in the expected photo-bleaching phenotype. Next, the VIGS approach was used to silence two additional genes, drought-induced protein gene 15 (ApDRI15) and salinity-induced protein gene 1 (ApSI1). When ApDRI15 was knocked down, the plants were more sensitive to drought stress than the control plants, with smaller leaves, shorter internodes, and lower biomass. The ApDRI15-silenced plants had lower relative water content, lower free proline levels, and higher water loss rates than the control. Silencing of ApSI1 significantly decreased tolerance to salinity, and the ApSI1-silenced plants were withered and smaller. These results indicate that the pgR107 VIGS approach is a simple and highly effective tool for dissecting gene function in A. philoxeroides. Further experiments with the VIGS approach will enhance our understanding of the molecular mechanisms of the adaptability and plasticity of A. philoxeroides and improve our ability to combat the damage caused by this weed.

【 授权许可】

Unknown