Overexpression of cotton PLATZ transcription factors GhPLATZ01 and GhPLATZ15 improves the drought resistance of tomato

作者：Tao Liu, Yanhua Xue, Xiaoqin Ding, Yao Zhang, Zhongqing Li, Zhenhai Zhang, Zhihui Yang, Jianbo Zhu, Ruina Liu · 发表于：BMC Plant Biology · 年份：2025 · DOI：10.1186/s12870-025-07428-3 · 被引用次数：4 · 研究领域：Plant Molecular Biology Research、Research in Cotton Cultivation、Plant Stress Responses and Tolerance

The plant-specific transcription factor GhPLATZ, a zinc finger protein, plays a crucial role in plant growth and stress response. This study achieved heterologous expression of the GhPLATZ01 and GhPLATZ15 genes from upland cotton in tomato plants, generating two transgenic lines: trans-GhPLATZ01 and trans-GhPLATZ15. Overexpression of these genes resulted in transgenic tomatoes with higher chlorophyll content, relative water content, and proline levels, while showing reduced malondialdehyde content and conductivity. These findings indicate that GhPLATZ01 and trans-GhPLATZ15 significantly minimize cell membrane damage and enhance plant stability under drought conditions. Additionally, overexpression of these genes upregulated antioxidant enzyme-related genes in tomatoes, leading to enhanced antioxidant activity and reduced oxidative stress. Consequently, this study demonstrates that GhPLATZ01&15 can improve drought resistance through improved water retention, reduced cellular damage, enhanced membrane stability, and antioxidant capacity, providing valuable genetic resources for developing drought-resistant crops.