CsREV-CsTCP4-CsVND7 module shapes xylem patterns differentially between stem and leaf to enhance tea plant tolerance to drought.
Cell Rep
; 43(4): 113987, 2024 Apr 23.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-38517888
ABSTRACT
Cultivating drought-tolerant tea varieties enhances both yield and quality of tea plants in northern China. However, the mechanisms underlying their drought tolerance remain largely unknown. Here we identified a key regulator called CsREV, which differentially regulates xylem patterns between leaves and stems, thereby conferring drought tolerance in tea plants. When drought occurs, upregulation of CsREV activates the CsVND7a-dependent xylem vessel differentiation. However, when drought persists, the vessel differentiation is hindered as CsVND7a is downregulated by CsTCP4a. This, combined with the CsREV-promoted secondary-cell-wall thickness of xylem vessel, leads to the enhanced curling of leaves, a characteristic closely associated with plant drought tolerance. Notably, this inhibitory effect of CsTCP4a on CsVND7a expression is absent in stems, allowing stem xylem vessels to continuously differentiate. Overall, the CsREV-CsTCP4-CsVND7 module is differentially utilized to shape the xylem patterns in leaves and stems, potentially balancing water transportation and utilization to improve tea plant drought tolerance.
Key words
Full text:
1
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Plant Proteins
/
Plant Stems
/
Plant Leaves
/
Gene Expression Regulation, Plant
/
Xylem
/
Droughts
Language:
En
Journal:
Cell Rep
Year:
2024
Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
China