PbGBF3 enhances salt response in pear by upregulating PbAPL2 and PbSDH1 and reducing ABA‐mediated salt sensitivity

• DOI: 10.1111/tpj.16953
• Publication Date: 2024-07-29T16:39:45Z
• Authors: Huizhen Dong; Qiming Chen; Yifei Fu; Haoyang Xie; Tinghan Li; Dingli Li; Yingjie Yang; Zhihua Xie; Kaijie Qi; Shaoling Zhang; Xiaosan Huang
• Keywords: WRKY protein domain; Pyrus communis

SUMMARY Pear is a widely cultivated fruit crop, but its distribution and sustainable production are significantly limited by salt stress. This study used RNA‐Seq time‐course analysis, WGCNA, functional enrichment analysis to uncover the molecular mechanisms underlying stress tolerance in Pyrus ussuriensis . We identified an ABA‐related regulatory module, PbGBF3‐PbAPL2‐PbSDH1, as crucial this response. PbGBF3, bZIP transcription factor, enhances upregulating PbAPL2 PbSDH1 Overexpression of PbGBF3 improved communis calli Arabidopsis , while silencing it reduced betulifolia Functional assays showed that binds promoters increasing their expression. PbSDH1, key enzymes starch synthesis sorbitol pathway, respectively, enhance AGPase activity, soluble sugar content, SDH improving ROS scavenging ion balance. Our findings suggest ‐ modules positively regulate enhancing ABA signaling reducing ABA‐mediated growth inhibition. These insights provide foundation for developing salt‐tolerant pear cultivars.