The bZIP transcription factor GmbZIP15 facilitates resistance against Sclerotinia sclerotiorum and Phytophthora sojae infection in soybean

• Published in: iScience Vol. 24; no. 6; p. 102642
• Main Authors: Zhang, Man, Liu, Yanhui, Li, Zixian, She, Zeyuan, Chai, Mengnan, Aslam, Mohammad, He, Qing, Huang, Youmei, Chen, Fangqian, Chen, Huihuang, Song, Shikui, Wang, Bingrui, Cai, Hanyang, Qin, Yuan
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Inc 25.06.2021; Elsevier
• Subjects: Epigenetics; Plant Biology; Plant Pathology; Plant Pathology; Epigenetics; Plant Biology
• ISSN: 2589-0042; 2589-0042
• DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2021.102642

Soybean, one of the most valuable oilseed crops, is under constant pressure from pathogens. bZIP transcription factors (TFs) composing one of the largest TF families in plants have diverse functions. Biochemical and physiological analyses were performed to characterize the regulatory roles of soybean bZIP TF GmbZIP15 in response to pathogens. We found that transgenic soybean plants overexpressing GmbZIP15 has increased resistance against Sclerotinia sclerotiorum and Phytophthora sojae. Besides, GmbZIP15 regulates pathogen response by modulating the antioxidant defense system and phytohormone signaling. In addition, we performed chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing to identify the downstream genes of GmbZIP15 in response to S. sclerotiorum and found that GmbZIP15 can activate or repress the expression of defense-related genes through direct promoter binding. Taken together, these results indicate that GmbZIP15 plays a positive role in pathogen resistance in soybean, and this activity may be dependent on phytohormone signaling. [Display omitted] •GmbZIP15 improves resistance against pathogen•GmbZIP15 modulates the antioxidant defense system•GmbZIP15 regulates phytohormone signaling•GmbZIP15 can direct bind to G-box Epigenetics; Plant biology; Plant pathology;