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Transcript analysis of citrus miRNA397 and its target LAC7 reveals a possible role in response to boron toxicity

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Abstract

Boron (B) toxicity reduces crop productivity and is a serious abiotic stress presenting in many parts of the world. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play important roles in nutrient toxicity. In this study, we found that the B concentrations in roots and leaves of trifoliate orange (Poncirus trifoliata) were increased by 1.4- and 1.2-fold, respectively, after 10 days of excess B treatment (DAEBT). After 20 DAEBT, the B concentrations in roots and leaves increased by 2.8- and 2.0-fold, respectively. Transcript analysis showed that the miR397 relative transcript level decreased following the excess B treatment. Laccase7 (LAC7) was shown to be the target of miR397, and its transcription increased after the excess B treatment. In addition, the activity of laccase increased significantly following this treatment. Because LAC7 plays a role in lignin biosynthesis, we also measured the lignin concentrations in roots and leaves and found that they were increased following the excess B treatment. Our work demonstrates that decreased miR397 transcription plays a possible role in enhancing tolerance to B toxicity stress via negatively regulating LAC7 transcription and increasing the lignin concentration.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 31272121).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Key Laboratory of Horticultural Plant Biology (Huazhong Agricultural University), Ministry of Education, Wuhan, 430070, People’s Republic of China

    Long-Fei Jin, Yong-Zhong Liu, Xin-Xing Yin & Shu-Ang Peng

  2. Key Laboratory of Horticultural Crop Biology and Genetic Improvement (Central Region), Ministry of Education, Wuhan, 430070, People’s Republic of China

    Long-Fei Jin, Yong-Zhong Liu, Xin-Xing Yin & Shu-Ang Peng

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  1. Long-Fei Jin
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  2. Yong-Zhong Liu
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  3. Xin-Xing Yin
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  4. Shu-Ang Peng
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Correspondence to Yong-Zhong Liu or Shu-Ang Peng.

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Communicated by S. Srivastava.

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Jin, LF., Liu, YZ., Yin, XX. et al. Transcript analysis of citrus miRNA397 and its target LAC7 reveals a possible role in response to boron toxicity. Acta Physiol Plant 38, 18 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11738-015-2035-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11738-015-2035-0

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