Ectopic expression of pepper CaPF1 in potato enhances multiple stresses tolerance and delays initiation of in vitro tuberization

• Published in: Planta Vol. 228; no. 4; pp. 701 - 708
• Main Authors: Youm, Jung Won, Jeon, Jae Heung, Choi, Doil, Yi, So Young, Joung, Hyouk, Kim, Hyun Soon
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Berlin/Heidelberg : Springer-Verlag 01.09.2008; Springer-Verlag; Springer; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Adaptation to environment and cultivation conditions; Adaptation, Physiological - genetics; Agriculture; Agrobacterium tumefaciens; Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions; Biological and medical sciences; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Blotting, Northern; Blotting, Southern; Capsicum - genetics; Ecology; Forestry; Freezing; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Gene Expression; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; Genes; Genes, Plant; Genetics and breeding of economic plants; Life Sciences; Oxidative stress; Plant growth; Plant Proteins - genetics; Plant Proteins - metabolism; Plant Sciences; Plants; Plants, Genetically Modified; Polymerase Chain Reaction; Potatoes; RAPID COMMUNICATION; Solanum tuberosum - genetics; Solanum tuberosum - metabolism; Solanum tuberosum - physiology; Stress tolerance; Stress, Physiological; Transcription factors; Transcription Factors - genetics; Transcription Factors - metabolism; Transgenic plants; Tubers; Varietal selection. Specialized plant breeding, plant breeding aims; Freezing tolerance; Oxidative stress; Heat tolerance; in vitro tuberization; Heavy metal; Tolerance; Tuberization; Low temperature
• ISSN: 0032-0935; 1432-2048
• DOI: 10.1007/s00425-008-0782-5

Ethylene-responsive factors (ERFs) are plant-specific transcription factors, many of which have been linked to plant defense responses. However, little is known about the functional significance of ERF genes in potato plants compared to the model plant species Arabidopsis. We show here that overexpression of CaPF1, an ERF/AP2-type pepper transcription factor gene, effectively increased tolerance to freezing, heat, heavy metal, and oxidative stress in potatoes. Interestingly, CaPF1 was involved in tuber formation in potato plants. The time course of microtuber formation was significantly retarded in potato plants that overexpressed CaPF1 compared with wild-type potato plants. Overall, the results of the present study indicate that the pepper transcription factor gene, CaPF1, is involved in promotion of multiple stress tolerance and retardation of in vitro tuberization in potato plants.