Histone lysine methylations (HLMs) are implicated in control of gene expression in different eukaryotes. However, the role of HLMs in regulating desirable crop traits and the enzymes involved in these modifications are poorly understood. We studied the functions of tomato histone H3 lysine methyltransferases SET Domain Group 33 (SDG33) and SDG34 in biotic and abiotic stress responses. The double but not the single mutants show resistance to the fungal pathogen Notably, diminution of H3K4 and H3K36 trimethylation and expression of negative regulators in challenged plants contributes to stress tolerance of the mutants. Mutations in
Global climate change is causing more frequent and severe droughts, which can have negative impacts on plant growth and crop productivity. Under drought conditions, plants produce the hormone ABA (abscisic acid), which regulates adaptive responses, such as stomatal closure and root elongation. Plant viruses have been used in the lab to convey new traits to plants and could also be used to increase production of ABA or to enhance downstream plant drought resistance responses. In this study, foxtail mosaic virus (FoMV) was used to silence After drought treatment, we observed a nearly twofold increase in expression of a stress‐mitigation gene, These results demonstrate that the FoMV system can be used to silence endogenous expression of
- Award ID(s):
- 2026068
- PAR ID:
- 10464059
- Publisher / Repository:
- Wiley-Blackwell
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- Plant Biology
- Volume:
- 25
- Issue:
- 6
- ISSN:
- 1435-8603
- Page Range / eLocation ID:
- p. 956-964
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
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Summary SDG33 andSDG34 gene edited mutants were altered in H3K36 and H3K4 methylations, and expression of genes involved in diverse processes and responses to biotic and abiotic stimuli.Botrytis cinerea. Interestingly, single mutants were tolerant to drought and the double mutant showed superior tolerance and plant growth consistent with independent and additive functions. Mutants maintained higher water status during drought and improved recovery and survival after lapse of drought.SDG33 andSDG34 are likely to remove predisposition to biotic and abiotic stress by disrupting permissive transcriptional context promoting expression of negative regulatory factors. These allows improvement of stress and pathogen tolerance, without growth trade‐offs, through modification of histone epigenetic marks. -
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