Overexpression of the Gene from the Desert Pioneer Plant Enhances the Drought Tolerance in .

This research centers on the sand-fixing plant known as , from which the β-glucosidase gene was successfully cloned using the molecular cloning method. encodes a hydrophilic and stable protein made up of 193 amino acids, located in the cell membrane. qRT-PCR analysis indicated that the expression of the is closely linked to the drought stress tolerance of . Following this, functional validation was performed using an overexpression system. The overexpression of transgenic lines showed significantly improved drought tolerance under PEG and mannitol treatments. Assessments of germination, root length, and physiological indicators such as proline, malondialdehyde content, soluble sugars, and relative leaf water content (RLWC) further confirmed the enhanced performance of the overexpressing plants. Additionally, the comparative transcriptomic analysis of compared to the wild-type (WT) showed that differentially upregulated genes were primarily enriched in categories of "cellular process," "cell," and "catalytic activity." KEGG pathway enrichment analysis indicated that the genes were mainly concentrated in the pathways of phenylpropanoid biosynthesis and plant hormone signal transduction. These findings provide a crucial foundation for further investigation into the function of the and its role in regulating plant tissue development and adaptation to stress. This research is anticipated to offer new theoretical insights and genetic resources for enhancing plant stress tolerance through genetic engineering.