AUTHOR=Yang Zhen , Yang Xue , Dong Shujia , Ge Yao , Zhang Xuenan , Zhao Xinjie , Han Ning 

TITLE=Overexpression of β-Ketoacyl-CoA Synthase From Vitis vinifera L. Improves Salt Tolerance in Arabidopsis thaliana

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Plant Science

VOLUME=11

YEAR=2020

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/plant-science/articles/10.3389/fpls.2020.564385

DOI=10.3389/fpls.2020.564385

ISSN=1664-462X

ABSTRACT=<p>Grape (<italic>Vitis vinifera</italic> L.) is a fruit tree with high salt tolerance and high nutritional value, medicinal value, and economic value. Suberin in roots is characterized by long-chain fatty acids and is thought to be related to the salt tolerance of grape. The key enzyme in the fatty acid elongation process is β-ketoacyl-CoA synthase (KCS). The function and the regulatory mechanism of <italic>VvKCS</italic> in response to salt stress in grape are unclear. In this study, <italic>VvKCS</italic> was isolated from <italic>V. vinifera</italic> L. A real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction analysis showed that salt stress enhanced <italic>VvKCS</italic> transcription levels in grapes. Overexpression of <italic>VvKCS</italic> increased the tolerance to salt stress in <italic>Arabidopsis</italic> during the germination and seedling stages. The improved salt tolerance was the result of the combined contributions of multiple mechanisms including the regulation of expression of ion transporters and channels, accumulation of osmotic regulating substances, and maintenance of membrane stability. The results of this study are valuable information on plant salt tolerance and provide a theoretical basis for the molecular mechanism of grape salt tolerance.</p>