Sex-determining gene in poplar also boosts drought resistance

A study has revealed that the expression of the poplar sex-determining gene FERR can significantly enhance drought tolerance in plants. By overexpressing FERR in male poplar trees and knocking it out in females, researchers observed distinct differences in how each responded to drought conditions. Overexpression led to improved stomatal closure, increased root biomass, and higher antioxidant activities under drought stress. These findings suggest that FERR not only determines sex but also plays a crucial role in regulating the ABA signaling pathway to boost plant resilience against water scarcity.

Dioecious plants, such as poplars, exhibit sex-specific responses to environmental stresses, with females often showing greater resilience to drought. The gene FERR in poplar, which determines sex in the species, has been shown to influence sex-specific traits. However, the role of FERR beyond sex determination, especially in its response to abiotic stresses like drought, has not been fully understood. This research provides insight into how FERR may contribute to drought tolerance, offering new avenues for enhancing plant resilience in changing climates. Based on these challenges, further research is needed to explore how sex-determining genes in plants can affect their stress responses.

Published (DOI: 10.1093/hr/uhaf066) in Horticulture Research on March 5, 2025, researchers from Nanjing Forestry University and the University of Cambridge have uncovered a novel role for the sex-determining gene FERR in poplars, showing it plays a critical part in drought resistance. Their findings reveal that FERR interacts with the ABA signaling pathway, enhancing plant survival under water stress conditions. This study opens new possibilities for improving drought tolerance in crops through genetic manipulation of sex-determining genes.

The study focused on the overexpression and knockout of the FERR gene in poplars to assess its role in drought tolerance. Overexpression of FERR in male poplars led to a significant reduction in leaf wilting and curling under drought conditions, indicating improved drought resistance. This was accompanied by enhanced stomatal closure, reduced water loss, and increased root biomass compared to wild-type (WT) plants. Additionally, overexpressing FERR resulted in higher activities of antioxidant enzymes like SOD and POD, as well as reduced levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS), further contributing to drought tolerance.

In contrast, the knockout of FERR in female poplars showed no significant improvement in drought resistance, suggesting that the presence of FERR is crucial for enhancing drought tolerance. Transcriptome analysis revealed that FERR interacts with key signaling pathways, including the SnRK2s-ARR5 complex, which regulates ABA signaling. These results point to a pleiotropic effect of the sex-determining gene FERR, indicating that sex-determining genes may have broader implications for stress tolerance in plants.

"These findings represent a breakthrough in our understanding of how sex-determining genes, like FERR, can impact plant stress responses," said Dr. Tongming Yin, the senior researcher behind the study. "By enhancing drought resistance, FERR could play a pivotal role in developing more resilient crops, especially in the face of climate change. This study paves the way for future research aimed at harnessing the genetic potential of sex-determining genes to improve agricultural productivity."

This discovery has significant implications for agricultural science. By targeting the sex-determining gene FERR, researchers could potentially enhance drought tolerance in crops, contributing to more resilient food production systems in arid regions. The insights into the ABA signaling pathway may also lead to new strategies for improving water-use efficiency in crops, crucial for maintaining agricultural output under changing climate conditions. Further research could focus on translating these findings into practical applications, such as genetic modifications or breeding programs aimed at improving drought resistance in economically important crops like poplar, maize, and wheat.

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References

DOI

10.1093/hr/uhaf066

Original Source URL

https://doi.org/10.1093/hr/uhaf066

Funding information

The work was supported by the National Key Research and Development Plan of China (2021YFD2200202), the Key Research and Development Project (BE2021366), and the China Scholarship Council (grant no. 202208320351).

About Horticulture Research

Horticulture Research is an open access journal of Nanjing Agricultural University and ranked number one in the Horticulture category of the Journal Citation Reports ™ from Clarivate, 2023. The journal is committed to publishing original research articles, reviews, perspectives, comments, correspondence articles and letters to the editor related to all major horticultural plants and disciplines, including biotechnology, breeding, cellular and molecular biology, evolution, genetics, inter-species interactions, physiology, and the origination and domestication of crops.