Anhui Science and Technology University, College of Agronomy, Fengyang, Anhui 233100, P.R. China.
Anhui Science and Technology University, College of Agronomy, Fengyang, Anhui 233100, P.R. China; and Anhui Province International Joint Research Center of Forage Bio-breeding, Chuzhou, Anhui 233100, P.R. China.
Funct Plant Biol. 2024 Aug;51. doi: 10.1071/FP23238.
ERECTA (ER) is a type of receptor-like kinase that contributes a crucial mission in various aspects of plant development, physiological metabolism, and abiotic stresses responses. This study aimed to explore the functional characteristics of the SiER family genes in millet (Setaria italica L.), focusing on the growth phenotype and drought resistance of Arabidopsis overexpressed SiER4_X1 and SiER1_X4 genes (SiERs ). The results revealed that overexpression of SiER4_X1 and SiER1_X4 genes in Arabidopsis significantly enhanced the leaf number, expanded leaf length and width, further promoted the silique number, length and diameter, and plant height and main stem thickness, ultimately leading to a substantial increase in individual plant biomass. Compared to the wild-type (WT), through simulated drought stress, the expression level of SiER genes was notably upregulated, transgenic Arabidopsis seeds exhibited stronger germination rates and root development; after experiencing drought conditions, the activities of antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase and peroxidase) increased, while the levels of malondialdehyde and relative electrical conductivity decreased. These results indicate that overexpression of SiERs significantly enhanced both biomass production and drought resistance in Arabidopsis . The SiER4_X1 and SiER1_X4 genes emerge as promising candidate genes for improving biomass production and drought resistance in forage plants.
ERECTA（ER）是一种受体样激酶，在植物发育的各个方面、生理代谢和非生物胁迫反应中都起着至关重要的作用。本研究旨在探讨谷子（Setaria italica L.）SiER 家族基因的功能特征，重点研究拟南芥中过表达 SiER4_X1 和 SiER1_X4 基因（SiERs）的生长表型和抗旱性。结果表明，SiER4_X1 和 SiER1_X4 基因在拟南芥中的过表达显著增加了叶片数量，扩大了叶片长度和宽度，进一步促进了蒴果数量、长度和直径以及株高和主茎厚度，最终导致单株生物量的显著增加。与野生型（WT）相比，通过模拟干旱胁迫，SiER 基因的表达水平显著上调，转基因拟南芥种子表现出更强的发芽率和根系发育；在经历干旱条件后，抗氧化酶（超氧化物歧化酶和过氧化物酶）的活性增加，而丙二醛和相对电导率的水平降低。这些结果表明，SiERs 的过表达显著提高了拟南芥的生物量生产和抗旱性。SiER4_X1 和 SiER1_X4 基因是提高饲料植物生物量生产和抗旱性的有前途的候选基因。
