Barley Plants Overexpressing Ferrochelatases (HvFC1 and HvFC2) Show Improved Photosynthetic Rates and Have Reduced Photo-Oxidative Damage under Drought Stress than Non-Transgenic Controls

Dilrukshi S. K. Nagahatenna; Boris Parent; Everard J. Edwards; Peter Langridge; Ryan Whitford

doi:10.3390/agronomy10091351

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Barley Plants Overexpressing Ferrochelatases (HvFC1 and HvFC2) Show Improved Photosynthetic Rates and Have Reduced Photo-Oxidative Damage under Drought Stress than Non-Transgenic Controls

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Barley Plants Overexpressing Ferrochelatases (HvFC1 and HvFC2) Show Improved Photosynthetic Rates and Have Reduced Photo-Oxidative Damage under Drought Stress than Non-Transgenic Controls

Dilrukshi S. K. Nagahatenna, Boris Parent, Everard J. Edwards, Peter Langridge and Ryan Whitford

Agronomy (Basel), Vol.10(9), 1351

2020

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy10091351

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Abstract

Agriculture

Agronomy

Life Sciences & Biomedicine

Plant Sciences

Science & Technology

We investigated the roles of twoFerrochelatases (FCs), which encode the terminal enzyme for heme biosynthesis, in drought and oxidative stress tolerance in model cereal plant barley (Hordeum vulgare). Three independent transgenic lines ectopically overexpressing either barleyFC1orFC2were selected and evaluated under well-watered, drought, and oxidative stress conditions. BothHvFC1andHvFC2overexpressing transgenics showed delayed wilting and maintained higher photosynthetic performance relative to controls, after exposure to soil dehydration. In each case,HvFCoverexpression significantly upregulated the nuclear genes associated with detoxification of reactive oxygen species (ROS) upon drought stress. Overexpression ofHvFCs, also suppressed photo-oxidative damage induced by the deregulated tetrapyrrole biosynthesis mutanttigrina(d12). Previous studies suggest that onlyFC1is implicated in stress defense responses, however, our study demonstrated that bothFC1andFC2affect drought stress tolerance. As FC-derived free heme was proposed as a chloroplast-to-nuclear signal, heme could act as an important signal, stimulating drought responsive nuclear gene expression. This study also highlighted tetrapyrrole biosynthetic enzymes as potential targets for engineering improved crop performance, both in well-watered and water-limited environments.

Details

Title: Barley Plants Overexpressing Ferrochelatases (HvFC1 and HvFC2) Show Improved Photosynthetic Rates and Have Reduced Photo-Oxidative Damage under Drought Stress than Non-Transgenic Controls
Authors/Creators: Dilrukshi S. K. Nagahatenna - The University of Adelaide
Boris Parent - Laboratoire d'Écophysiologie Moléculaire des Plantes sous Stress Environnementaux
Everard J. Edwards - Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation
Peter Langridge - The University of Adelaide
Ryan Whitford - The University of Adelaide
Publication Details: Agronomy (Basel), Vol.10(9), 1351
Publisher: MDPI
Number of pages: 21
Identifiers: 991005779529707891
Murdoch Affiliation: Centre for Crop and Food Innovation
Language: English
Resource Type: Journal article

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Collaboration types: Domestic collaboration; International collaboration
Citation topics: 3 Agriculture, Environment & Ecology; 3.171 Photoproductivity; 3.171.129 Photosynthesis Mechanisms
Web Of Science research areas: Agronomy; Plant Sciences
ESI research areas: Agricultural Sciences