Suppression of a NAC-like transcription factor gene improves boron-toxicity tolerance in rice

Plant Physiol. 2011 Jul;156(3):1457-63. doi: 10.1104/pp.110.171470. Epub 2011 May 4.

Abstract

We identified a gene responsible for tolerance to boron (B) toxicity in rice (Oryza sativa), named BORON EXCESS TOLERANT1. Using recombinant inbred lines derived from the B-toxicity-sensitive indica-ecotype cultivar IR36 and the tolerant japonica-ecotype cultivar Nekken 1, the region responsible for tolerance to B toxicity was narrowed to 49 kb on chromosome 4. Eight genes are annotated in this region. The DNA sequence in this region was compared between the B-toxicity-sensitive japonica cultivar Wataribune and the B-toxicity-tolerant japonica cultivar Nipponbare by eco-TILLING analysis and revealed a one-base insertion mutation in the open reading frame sequence of the gene Os04g0477300. The gene encodes a NAC (NAM, ATAF, and CUC)-like transcription factor and the function of the transcript is abolished in B-toxicity-tolerant cultivars. Transgenic plants in which the expression of Os04g0477300 is abolished by RNA interference gain tolerance to B toxicity.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adaptation, Physiological / drug effects
  • Adaptation, Physiological / genetics*
  • Boron / toxicity*
  • DNA, Plant / genetics
  • Genes, Plant / genetics
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Oryza / drug effects*
  • Oryza / genetics*
  • Physical Chromosome Mapping
  • Plant Proteins / genetics*
  • Polymorphism, Genetic
  • RNA Interference / drug effects
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Suppression, Genetic / drug effects*
  • Transcription Factors / genetics*
  • Transcription Factors / metabolism
  • Transcriptional Activation / drug effects
  • Transcriptional Activation / genetics

Substances

  • DNA, Plant
  • Plant Proteins
  • Transcription Factors
  • Boron

Associated data

  • GENBANK/AB630330
  • GENBANK/AB630331