LoWRKY1 Alleviates PEG-Induced Membrane and Enhances Antioxidant Responses Damage in Larix olgensis and Tobacco.
- 1State Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Breeding, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, China.
Abstract
Drought stress constitutes a persistent constraint on tree survival, and larch, owing to their distinctive needle morphology, deploys drought-responsive strategies that differ from those of broad-leaved trees. In this study, we identified a putative transcription factor, LoWRKY1, that is highly expressed in larch needles and induced by both polyethylene glycol (PEG)-mediated osmotic stress and abscisic acid (ABA) treatment. Heterologous overexpression of LoWRKY1 in tobacco enhanced leaf relative water content (RWC), reduced ion leakage (IL) and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, thereby mitigating damage to the membrane system. Furthermore, LoWRKY1 was shown to promote superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activities in both tobacco and Larix olgensis embryonic callus cells, effectively scavenging reactive oxygen species (ROS) and improving drought tolerance. Collectively, these findings establish that LoWRKY1 plays a positive role in PEG-induced osmotic stress responses in L. olgensis, providing a promising candidate gene for the genetic improvement in the drought tolerance in coniferous trees. More broadly, this work highlights the value of integrating heterologous expression with conifer embryonic callus systems to dissect stress-regulatory networks in conifers, thereby offering a practical strategy to accelerate functional genomics in tree species that remain recalcitrant to stable transformation.
Related
- Exogenous 24-Epibrassinolide Alleviates Postharvest Chilling Injury in Green Pepper Fruit Associated with Enhanced Antioxidant Defense and Reduced Membrane Damage
- Loss of ALN Function in Arabidopsis thaliana Induces Allantoin Accumulation and Enhances Antioxidant Enzyme Responses to Copper Toxicity
- Dietary Echinacea angustifolia Extract Enhances Antioxidant and Immune Responses and Disease Resistance in Common Carp, Cyprinus carpio
- Long-Term Straw Return Combined with Tillage Management Systems Enhances Photosynthetic Capacity, Antioxidant Defense System, and Maize Yield
- Exogenous Melatonin Alleviates High- and Low-Temperature Stress in Cucumber Seedlings and Regulates Hormone Signaling-Related Transcriptional Responses
BibTeX
@article{dong2026lowrky1,
title = {{LoWRKY1 Alleviates PEG-Induced Membrane and Enhances Antioxidant Responses Damage in Larix olgensis and Tobacco.}},
author = {Hao Dong and Chen Wang and Wenna Zhao and Yu Liu and Chengpeng Cui and Shujuan Li and Meng Li},
journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.3390/plants15203183},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42943136},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - LoWRKY1 Alleviates PEG-Induced Membrane and Enhances Antioxidant Responses Damage in Larix olgensis and Tobacco.
AU - Hao Dong
AU - Chen Wang
AU - Wenna Zhao
AU - Yu Liu
AU - Chengpeng Cui
AU - Shujuan Li
AU - Meng Li
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/17
JO - Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
DO - 10.3390/plants15203183
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42943136
AB - Drought stress constitutes a persistent constraint on tree survival, and larch, owing to their distinctive needle morphology, deploys drought-responsive strategies that differ from those of broad-leaved trees. In this study, we identified a putative transcription factor, LoWRKY1, that is highly expressed in larch needles and induced by both polyethylene glycol (PEG)-mediated osmotic stress and abscisic acid (ABA) treatment. Heterologous overexpression of LoWRKY1 in tobacco enhanced leaf relative water content (RWC), reduced ion leakage (IL) and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, thereby mitigating damage to the membrane system. Furthermore, LoWRKY1 was shown to promote superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activities in both tobacco and Larix olgensis embryonic callus cells, effectively scavenging reactive oxygen species (ROS) and improving drought tolerance. Collectively, these findings establish that LoWRKY1 plays a positive role in PEG-induced osmotic stress responses in L. olgensis, providing a promising candidate gene for the genetic improvement in the drought tolerance in coniferous trees. More broadly, this work highlights the value of integrating heterologous expression with conifer embryonic callus systems to dissect stress-regulatory networks in conifers, thereby offering a practical strategy to accelerate functional genomics in tree species that remain recalcitrant to stable transformation.
SN - 2223-7747
ER -