AUTHOR=Zhao Yuanling , Chang Xin , Qi Dongyue , Dong Lidong , Wang Guangjin , Fan Sujie , Jiang Liangyu , Cheng Qun , Chen Xi , Han Dan , Xu Pengfei , Zhang Shuzhen 

TITLE=A Novel Soybean ERF Transcription Factor, GmERF113, Increases Resistance to Phytophthora sojae Infection in Soybean

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Plant Science

VOLUME=8

YEAR=2017

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/plant-science/articles/10.3389/fpls.2017.00299

DOI=10.3389/fpls.2017.00299

ISSN=1664-462X

ABSTRACT=<p>Phytophthora root and stem rot of soybean caused by the oomycete <italic>Phytophthora sojae</italic>, is a destructive disease worldwide. Ethylene response factors (ERFs) play important roles in regulating plant biotic and abiotic stress tolerance. In this study, a new ERF gene, <italic>GmERF113</italic>, was isolated from the highly resistant soybean ‘Suinong 10.’ Sequence analysis suggested that the protein encoded by <italic>GmERF113</italic> contained a conserved AP2/ERF domain of 58 amino acid and belonged to the B-4 subgroup of the ERF subfamily. Expression of <italic>GmERF113</italic> was significantly induced by <italic>P. sojae</italic>, ethylene, and methyl jasmonate. GmERF113 protein localized to the nucleus when transiently expressed in <italic>Arabidopsis</italic> protoplasts, could bind to the GCC-box, and acted as a transcription activator. In addition, a region of the full-length GmERF113, GmERF113-II, interacted with a basic helix-loop-helix transcription factor (GmbHLH) in yeast cells. Full-length GmERF113 also interacted with GmbHLH <italic>in planta. GmERF113</italic>-overexpressing transgenic plants in susceptible cultivar ‘Dongnong 50’ soybean exhibited increased resistance to <italic>P. sojae</italic> and positively regulated the expression of the pathogenesis-related genes, <italic>PR1</italic> and <italic>PR10-1</italic>. These results indicate that <italic>GmERF113</italic> may play a crucial role in the defense of soybean against <italic>P. sojae</italic> infection.</p>