AUTHOR=Bian Xiaofeng , Kim Ho Soo , Kwak Sang-Soo , Zhang Qian , Liu Shuai , Ma Peiyong , Jia Zhaodong , Xie Yizhi , Zhang Peng , Yu Yang 

TITLE=Different Functions of IbRAP2.4, a Drought-Responsive AP2/ERF Transcription Factor, in Regulating Root Development Between Arabidopsis and Sweetpotato

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Plant Science

VOLUME=13

YEAR=2022

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/plant-science/articles/10.3389/fpls.2022.820450

DOI=10.3389/fpls.2022.820450

ISSN=1664-462X

ABSTRACT=<p>Plant root systems are essential for the uptake of water and nutrients from soil and are positively correlated to yield in many crops including the sweetpotato, <italic>Ipomoea batatas</italic> (L.) Lam. Here, we isolated and functionally characterized <italic>IbRAP2.4</italic>, a novel nuclear-localized gene encoding the AP2/ERF transcription factor, from sweetpotato. <italic>IbRAP2.4</italic> was responsive to NaCl, PEG8000, ethylene, and Indole 3-acetic acid treatments. As revealed by electrophoretic mobility shift assay and dual luciferase assay, IbRAP2.4 could bind to both DRE and GCC-box elements and acted as a transcription activator. <italic>IbRAP2.4</italic> overexpression significantly promoted lateral root formation and enhanced the drought tolerance in <italic>Arabidopsis thaliana</italic>, while it inhibited storage root formation in transgenic sweetpotato by comprehensively upregulating lignin biosynthesis pathway genes. Results suggested that <italic>IbRAP2.4</italic> may be a useful potential target for further molecular breeding of high yielding sweetpotato.</p>