CsWRKY29, a key transcription factor in tea plant for freezing tolerance, ABA sensitivity, and sugar metabolism

Abstract Tea plants (Camellia sinensis L.) are prone to spring frosts, leading to substantial economic damage. WRKY transcription factors are key in plant abiotic stress responses, yet the role of CsWRKY29 in freezing tolerance is unclear. In this study, quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) and tran...

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Main Authors: Chengjin Xue, Xiaozhen Huang, Yichen Zhao
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2024-11-01
Series:Scientific Reports
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-80143-5
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author Chengjin Xue
Xiaozhen Huang
Yichen Zhao
author_facet Chengjin Xue
Xiaozhen Huang
Yichen Zhao
author_sort Chengjin Xue
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Tea plants (Camellia sinensis L.) are prone to spring frosts, leading to substantial economic damage. WRKY transcription factors are key in plant abiotic stress responses, yet the role of CsWRKY29 in freezing tolerance is unclear. In this study, quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) and transient green fluorescent protein assay revealed that CsWRKY29 localizes to the nucleus and its expression is induced by cold and abscisic acid (ABA). CsWRKY29 overexpression in Arabidopsis enhanced freezing tolerance, reduced electrolyte leakage, increased soluble sugars, and boosted superoxide dismutase activity, with upregulated COR genes. These lines also showed heightened ABA and glucose sensitivity. Cold treatment of CsWRKY29-overexpressing lines upregulated AtABI5, AtHXK1, and AtSUS4 compared to wild type, and yeast one-hybrid assays confirmed CsWRKY29 binding to the W-box in the CsABI5 promoter. Furthermore, the application of virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) technology to reduce CsWRKY29 expression in tea plants revealed a significant decrease in the transcript levels of CsCBFs, CsABI5, CsHXK1, and CsSUS4 in the silenced plants. In summary, our findings indicate that CsWRKY29 may serve as a critical transcription factor that contributes to freezing tolerance, ABA responsiveness, and sugar metabolism within tea plants.
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spelling doaj-art-bca9217f8c1e4598ab9dd955650c95c12024-11-24T12:20:09ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222024-11-0114111510.1038/s41598-024-80143-5CsWRKY29, a key transcription factor in tea plant for freezing tolerance, ABA sensitivity, and sugar metabolismChengjin Xue0Xiaozhen Huang1Yichen Zhao2College of Tea Sciences, Guizhou UniversityCollege of Tea Sciences, Guizhou UniversityCollege of Tea Sciences, Guizhou UniversityAbstract Tea plants (Camellia sinensis L.) are prone to spring frosts, leading to substantial economic damage. WRKY transcription factors are key in plant abiotic stress responses, yet the role of CsWRKY29 in freezing tolerance is unclear. In this study, quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) and transient green fluorescent protein assay revealed that CsWRKY29 localizes to the nucleus and its expression is induced by cold and abscisic acid (ABA). CsWRKY29 overexpression in Arabidopsis enhanced freezing tolerance, reduced electrolyte leakage, increased soluble sugars, and boosted superoxide dismutase activity, with upregulated COR genes. These lines also showed heightened ABA and glucose sensitivity. Cold treatment of CsWRKY29-overexpressing lines upregulated AtABI5, AtHXK1, and AtSUS4 compared to wild type, and yeast one-hybrid assays confirmed CsWRKY29 binding to the W-box in the CsABI5 promoter. Furthermore, the application of virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) technology to reduce CsWRKY29 expression in tea plants revealed a significant decrease in the transcript levels of CsCBFs, CsABI5, CsHXK1, and CsSUS4 in the silenced plants. In summary, our findings indicate that CsWRKY29 may serve as a critical transcription factor that contributes to freezing tolerance, ABA responsiveness, and sugar metabolism within tea plants.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-80143-5Tea plantAbscisic acidFreezing toleranceCsWRKY29Virus-induced gene silencing
spellingShingle Chengjin Xue
Xiaozhen Huang
Yichen Zhao
CsWRKY29, a key transcription factor in tea plant for freezing tolerance, ABA sensitivity, and sugar metabolism
Scientific Reports
Tea plant
Abscisic acid
Freezing tolerance
CsWRKY29
Virus-induced gene silencing
title CsWRKY29, a key transcription factor in tea plant for freezing tolerance, ABA sensitivity, and sugar metabolism
title_full CsWRKY29, a key transcription factor in tea plant for freezing tolerance, ABA sensitivity, and sugar metabolism
title_fullStr CsWRKY29, a key transcription factor in tea plant for freezing tolerance, ABA sensitivity, and sugar metabolism
title_full_unstemmed CsWRKY29, a key transcription factor in tea plant for freezing tolerance, ABA sensitivity, and sugar metabolism
title_short CsWRKY29, a key transcription factor in tea plant for freezing tolerance, ABA sensitivity, and sugar metabolism
title_sort cswrky29 a key transcription factor in tea plant for freezing tolerance aba sensitivity and sugar metabolism
topic Tea plant
Abscisic acid
Freezing tolerance
CsWRKY29
Virus-induced gene silencing
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-80143-5
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AT xiaozhenhuang cswrky29akeytranscriptionfactorinteaplantforfreezingtoleranceabasensitivityandsugarmetabolism
AT yichenzhao cswrky29akeytranscriptionfactorinteaplantforfreezingtoleranceabasensitivityandsugarmetabolism