Open Access

ARTICLE

EoPHR2, a Phosphate Starvation Response Transcription Factor, Is Involved in Improving Low-Phosphorus Stress Resistance in Eremochloa ophiuroides

Ying Chen^1,#, Chuanqiang Liu^1,#, Qingqing He¹, Jianjian Li², Jingjing Wang², Ling Li², Xiang Yao², Shenghao Zhou³, Haoran Wang^2,*
1 Poplar Germplasm Enhancement & Variety Improvement Laboratory, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, 210037, China
2 Institute of Botany, Jiangsu Province and Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing, 210014, China
3 Taixing Rural Energy Technology Development Service Station, Taixing, 225400, China
^#Ying Chen and Chuanqiang Liu contributed equally to this work
* Corresponding Author: Haoran Wang. Email:
(This article belongs to this Special Issue: The Effect of Soil Quality Degradation on the Plant Growth, Quality and Food Safety in Subtropical Agroforestry Ecosystems)

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany 2022, 91(3), 651-665. https://doi.org/10.32604/phyton.2022.017633

Received 25 May 2021; Accepted 29 July 2021; Issue published 26 October 2021

Abstract

As a macronutrient, Phosphorus (P) takes many roles in plant growth and development. It should be significant to explore the molecular mechanism of low-phosphorus stress response of plants. Phosphate starvation response (PHR) transcription factors play important roles in response to phosphorus deficiency stress in plants. In this study, we isolated a gene related to the plant phosphorus signaling system from the acid-soil-resistant centipedegrass (Eremochloa ophiuroides [Munro] Hack.), termed EoPHR2. The subcellular localization of EoPHR2 protein was observed to be nuclear located. The expression patterns of EoPHR2 in different tissues and Al/Pi-stress conditions were analyzed by qRT-PCR, they suggested a potential role in response to the multiple-stress under acid soil adversity. Based on the functional identification through transgenic plants, we found that (1) EoPHR2 is involved in the Pi-signaling pathway, and (2) overexpression of EoPHR2 mimics Pi-starvation signalling resulting on enhanced roots whether under Pi-deficiency stress or not. In conclusion, EoPHR2 transcription factor plays a role in response to the multiple stresses under acid soil conditions, improving the low-phosphorus stress resistance of Eremochloa ophiuroides.

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Keywords

Phosphate starvation response; transcription factor; phosphorus signaling system; acid soil adaptability; Eremochloa ophiuroides

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