Growth and physiological alterations related to root specific gene function of LrERF061- OE in Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch. hairy root clones under cadmium stress

Abiotic stresses particularly heavy metals are a threat to
living organisms including plants. It activates ethylene
biosynthesis and finally stimulation of reactive oxygen species
(ROS) gene expression that enhances stress tolerance.
Identification and functional analysis of such stress related
genes is very important to increase the stress tolerance
of valuable plants against heavy metals. Ethylene responsive
factor ERF061 belongs to transcription factors family
ERF, controls plant growth and ontogenesis as well as regulate
abiotic stress in model plant species. Therefore, in
this study, we examined tolerant function of LrERF061
over-expression vector on growth and physiology of Glycyrrhiza
uralensis hairy roots under cadmium (Cd) stress.
Effect of different Cd concentrations (0, 25, 50, 75, 100
mg/L) on growth and physiology of LrERF061- OE hairy
roots (LrE-HR) and control hairy roots (LrC-HR) of G.
uralensis was measured. Initially at low cadmium concentration
there was stimulating effect of Cd on LrE-HR and
LrC-HR of G. uralensis. While at high cadmium doses
growth of LrC-HR were retarded as compared to LrE-HR.
Intriguingly, significant increase was observed in relative
expression level of LrERF061-OE in LrE-HR at 100 mg/L
Cd concentration. According to results LrE-HR showed
maximum Cd uptake (81 mg/g) at high Cd concentrations
compared to LrC-HR (11 mg/g). The antioxidant
enzyme activities (SOD, CAT and POD) were also enhanced
at high Cd concentrations in LrE-HR compared
to LrC-HR. This work highlighted for the first-time tolerant
effect of LrERF061-OE which is upregulated under
Cd stress in G. uralensis hairy root clones.

Author(s): Aysha Arif Chahel, ZubaidaYousaf, Shaohua Zeng, Yuping Li , Wang Ying

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