The 30th International Conference on Arabidopsis Research (ICAR 2019)

687 / 2019-05-01 10:15:42

Unlocking how an extraordinary plant pigment combats salt stress

Disphyma australe,Salt tolerance,Halophyte,Pigment,Betalain

Plenary track > Abiotic Stress

Salinity tolerance is an important trait for food producing plants, underpinning environmental sustainability, given that arable land area affected by high salinity is increasing because of climate change, irrigation practices, and other causes. Identifying the different mechanisms responsible for salt tolerance in plants is therefore useful. Our previous studies have shown that foliar betacyanin pigments are associated with salinity tolerance in Disphyma australe, a halophyte capable of growing under high-salt conditions. However, the molecular mechanism responsible for this process has not been explored. We conducted large-scale RNAseq analysis to help develop an understanding of salt tolerance in D. australe. Production of betacyanin pigments was induced by high salt treatment, and a complex regulation of ion transporters might play a key role in D. australe salt tolerance. The results from this study are expected to generate new insights on alternative salinity tolerance mechanisms in halophytes, and could inform the development of novel biotechnological approaches to improve agricultural productivity in salinity-affected areas.