AUTHOR=Wei Qiuhui , Luo Qingchen , Wang Ruibin , Zhang Fan , He Yuan , Zhang Yang , Qiu Ding , Li Kexiu , Chang Junli , Yang Guangxiao , He Guangyuan 

TITLE=A Wheat R2R3-type MYB Transcription Factor TaODORANT1 Positively Regulates Drought and Salt Stress Responses in Transgenic Tobacco Plants

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Plant Science

VOLUME=8

YEAR=2017

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/plant-science/articles/10.3389/fpls.2017.01374

DOI=10.3389/fpls.2017.01374

ISSN=1664-462X

ABSTRACT=<p>MYB transcription factors play important roles in plant responses to biotic and abiotic stress. In this study, <italic>TaODORANT1</italic>, a R2R3-MYB gene, was cloned from wheat (<italic>Triticum aestivum</italic> L.). TaODORANT1 was localized in the nucleus and functioned as a transcriptional activator. <italic>TaODORANT1</italic> was up-regulated in wheat under PEG6000, NaCl, ABA, and H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub> treatments. <italic>TaODORANT1</italic>-overexpressing transgenic tobacco plants exhibited higher relative water content and lower water loss rate under drought stress, as well as lower Na<sup>+</sup> accumulation in leaves under salt stress. The transgenic plants showed higher CAT activity but lower ion leakage, H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub> and malondialdehyde contents under drought and salt stresses. Besides, the transgenic plants also exhibited higher SOD activity under drought stress. Our results also revealed that <italic>TaODORANT1</italic> overexpression up-regulated the expression of several ROS- and stress-related genes in response to both drought and salt stresses, thus enhancing transgenic tobacco plants tolerance. Our studies demonstrate that TaODORANT1 positively regulates plant tolerance to drought and salt stresses.</p>