Zhao Jin, Huang Miao, Liu Jing, Cai Junyi, He Yihan, Zhao Wenjie, Liu Chaozhong, Wu Yongjun
College of Agriculture, Guizhou University, Guiyang, 550025, China.
Institute of Pepper Industry and Technology, Guizhou University, Guiyang, 550025, China.
Theor Appl Genet. 2025 Feb 3;138(2):44. doi: 10.1007/s00122-025-04823-0.
The AP2/ERF transcription factor CaERF2 in pepper enhanced salt tolerance by scavenging reactive oxygen species. The effects of salt stress on plant development and progression are substantial. Ethylene response factor transcription factors (TFs) play a crucial role in responses to salt stress. Their functions in the salt response, particularly in pepper, are still mostly unknown. This study revealed the function of CaERF2 in salt tolerance of pepper plants. CaERF2 expression was dramatically increased in pepper plants following salt stress treatment. Under salinity treatment, CaERF2-silenced pepper showed decreased activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and peroxidase (POD), as well as reduced transcription levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging-related genes, resulting in increased O and HO accumulation and enhanced salt sensitivity. In contrast, overexpression of CaERF2 (OE) in Nicotiana benthamiana resulted in improved salt tolerance. Under salt stress, the OE lines outperformed the wild type in terms of seed germination rates, root lengths, the activity of SOD, POD, and CAT, and ROS-scavenging-related gene transcription. This study demonstrates that CaERF2 effectively enhances the salt tolerance in pepper by adjusting ROS homeostasis. This finding offers fresh perspectives on the significance of plant ERF2 and key candidate genes in the molecular breeding of salt-tolerant crops.
辣椒中的AP2/ERF转录因子CaERF2通过清除活性氧来增强耐盐性。盐胁迫对植物发育和进程的影响很大。乙烯响应因子转录因子（TFs）在对盐胁迫的响应中起关键作用。它们在盐响应中的功能，尤其是在辣椒中的功能，大多仍不清楚。本研究揭示了CaERF2在辣椒植株耐盐性中的作用。盐胁迫处理后，辣椒植株中CaERF2的表达显著增加。在盐处理下，CaERF2沉默的辣椒超氧化物歧化酶（SOD）、过氧化氢酶（CAT）和过氧化物酶（POD）的活性降低，活性氧（ROS）清除相关基因的转录水平也降低，导致O和HO积累增加，盐敏感性增强。相反，在本氏烟草中过表达CaERF2（OE）导致耐盐性提高。在盐胁迫下，OE株系在种子发芽率、根长、SOD、POD和CAT活性以及ROS清除相关基因转录方面均优于野生型。本研究表明，CaERF2通过调节ROS稳态有效地增强了辣椒的耐盐性。这一发现为植物ERF2和关键候选基因在耐盐作物分子育种中的重要性提供了新的视角。
