Soil salinization is an escalating global threat to crop productivity. Here, we demonstrate that the sorghum bHLH transcription factor SbbHLH168 is a central regulator of salt-stress tolerance. SbbHLH168 is nuclear-localized, constitutively expressed in all organs and rapidly up-regulated by NaCl. Overexpression of SbbHLH168 in either Arabidopsis or sorghum conferred markedly higher biomass retention, longer roots, lower relative electrical conductivity, less accumulation of superoxide and H₂O₂, and lower Na⁺/K⁺ ratio through decreased Na⁺ accumulation under salt stress, whereas VIGS silent groups displayed the opposite phenotype. qRT-PCR and biochemical assays demonstrated that SbbHLH168 up-regulates key lignin-biosynthetic genes (SbC4H, SbF5H, SbCOMT1) and increases root lignin content under salt stress, thereby reinforcing cell-wall integrity and limiting ion leakage. Furthermore, yeast two-hybrid and BiFC assays confirmed that SbbHLH168 interacts with SbbHLH35 in the nucleus, indicating that SbbHLH168's functional activity depends on heterodimerization with SbbHLH35. Collectively, SbbHLH168 integrates ion homeostasis, ROS scavenging and lignin content to confer salt tolerance, providing a direct gene target for molecular breeding of resilient sorghum cultivars.
Si-min Li, Zishuo Han, Rui Liu et al.· Stress Biology· 0 citations
Against the backdrop of global environmental change, plant growth and development face multiple challenges, and a range of abiotic stresses seriously affect their normal growth. In recent years, plant small peptides (SPs)-widely defined as peptides of fewer than 100 amino acids-have emerged as important signaling molecules at the forefront of stress response strategies, playing a key role in regulating plant growth, development, and stress adaptation. This paper reviews the classification of small peptides and their effects on plant growth and development, with a particular focus on the dynamic changes and regulatory mechanisms of various small peptide families under abiotic stress. Studies have shown that small peptides regulate root development, promote cell division and growth, and control reproductive development by participating in intercellular communication, hormone signaling, and stress response networks. The aim of the review is to summarize recent advances in the understanding of SPs in plant growth and development as well as in responses to abiotic stress. We also discuss future research directions concerning the application of these molecules in crop improvement and the enhancement of environmental resilience, thereby providing a theoretical foundation for the elucidation of stress tolerance mechanisms and the breeding of stress-resistant crop varieties.
Ling-Jun Lai, Yanling Zhang, Zengting Chen et al.· Frontiers in Plant Science· 0 citations
A novel SbWRKY6‑SbPLAC8-17 transcriptional cascade that positively regulates Cd tolerance by facilitating Cd²⁺ efflux is elucidates, providing promising genetic targets for phytoremediation and molecular breeding of safe sorghum cultivars for Cd-contaminated fields.
Shan Cao, Jiqing Zhang, Zhengyu Guo et al.· Journal of Hazardous Materia...· 0 citations
