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Characterization of Three Sorbitol Transporter Genes in Micropropagated Apple Plants Grown under Drought Stress

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Abstract

Sorbitol, a major end-product of photosynthesis in many species of the Rosaceae family, accumulates in response to abiotic stressors. However, the relationship that arises between the expression of sorbitol transporters and sorbitol accumulation under abiotic stress remains unclear. In this study, micropropagated ‘Fuji’ apple plants (Malus domestica Borkh. ‘Fuji’) were exposed to two varying degrees of osmotic stress and compared relative to an unstressed control. The osmotic stress was generated by adding PEG 6000 into full-strength Hoagland solution and adjusted the osmotic potential to either −0.75 MPa (mild drought stress [MIS]) or −1.5 MPa (severe drought stress [SES]). Analysis of sorbitol levels via high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) showed that the sorbitol concentration was elevated in roots, phloem tissues and leaves in both the MIS and SES treatments compared to controls for the entire duration of the experiment. Three cDNA sequences, encoding sorbitol transporters (MdSOT3, MdSOT4 and MdSOT5), were isolated from leaves. Real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) data suggests that the expression levels of MdSOT3 and MdSOT5 were higher under MIS and SES in roots, phloem tissues and leaves compared to unstressed controls. The average mRNA levels of MdSOT4 in phloem tissues declined under both drought treatments (with the exception being at 2 h of SES). In roots and leaves under SES, mRNA production was increased. These results indicate that the up-regulation of MdSOT3 and MdSOT5 expression is consistent with the accumulation of sorbitol under conditions of osmotic stress in apple plants. They enhanced drought tolerance in vegetative tissues. Increased MdSOT4 mRNA enhanced drought tolerance under SES.

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Acknowledgements

We gratefully acknowledge the state key laboratory for agro-biotechnology support of RT-qPCR, the 211 State Key Laboratory of College of Agronomy and Biotechnology. We are also thankful for the support of the National Natural Science Foundation Projects (No.30871696), and National Department Public Benefit Research Foundation (No. 201003021).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Fruit Science, College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, China Agricultural University, 2 Yuanmingyuan West Road, Haidian District, Beijing, 100193, China

    Fang Li, Hengjiu Lei, Xiangjuan Zhao, Rongrong Tian & Tianhong Li

  2. Key Laboratory of Stress Physiology and Molecular Biology for Fruit Trees of Beijing, China Agricultural University, 2 Yuanmingyuan West Road, Haidian District, Beijing, 100193, China

    Fang Li, Hengjiu Lei, Xiangjuan Zhao, Rongrong Tian & Tianhong Li

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  1. Fang Li
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Correspondence to Tianhong Li.

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Li, F., Lei, H., Zhao, X. et al. Characterization of Three Sorbitol Transporter Genes in Micropropagated Apple Plants Grown under Drought Stress. Plant Mol Biol Rep 30, 123–130 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11105-011-0323-4

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