The barley lipid transfer protein, BLT101, enhances cold tolerance in wheat under cold stress

Abstract

To understand the mechanism by which the barley plants tolerate overwintering, we analyzed the BLT101 gene expression in four different cultivars including two each of spring and winter barleys, where the BLT101 transcript level varied among the cultivars with a long-term cold acclimation. The BLT101 transcript was induced at a higher level in the crown tissues in response to low temperature treatment. The BLT101 transcript level correlated with those of the corresponding protein. BLT101-overexpressing transgenic wheat lines (BLT101ox's) grew slowly and showed decreased expression of the genes induced by hormones (such as auxin and cytokinin), compared to non-transgenic (NT) plants. After a prolonged cold treatment, the BLT101ox leaves showed normal phenotypes, while the NT plants displayed blighted and withered leaves. A substances leakage test showed that the BLT101ox wheat retains enhanced freezing tolerance, compared to the NT plants. The transgenic lines lost less water than the NT plants, under a cold-stressed condition. Our findings suggest that tolerance to water stress and the retardation of growth in cold conditions, the essential features in overwintering barleys, involve BLT101.

Candidate Genes Associated with Abiotic Stress Response in Plants as Tools to Engineer Tolerance to Drought, Salinity and Extreme Temperatures in Wheat: An Overview

“…The protection of plant membranes from cold-induced damage has been achieved also by overexpressing the BLT101 gene from barley [ 137 ] ( Table 4 ). This gene encodes a lipid transfer protein (LTP) able to modulate the local lipid composition and fluidity of plant membranes [ 138 ] and is upregulated in barley plants exposed to cold stress [ 139 ].…”

Research Progress in Membrane Lipid Metabolism and Molecular Mechanism in Peanut Cold Tolerance

“…Changes in LTP activity can lead to alterations in membrane lipid composition and affect cold tolerance (Sun et al, 2015). Choi and Hwang (2015) reported that the BLT101 -overexpressing transgenic wheat lines (BLT101ox) under cold stress loose less water and showed decreased expression of the genes induced by hormones (such as auxin and cytokinin) compared to non-transgenic (NT) plants. After prolonged cold treatment, BLT101ox leaves show normal phenotypes, whereas the NT plants displaydehydrated and withered leaves.…”

Perspectives on Low Temperature Tolerance and Vernalization Sensitivity in Barley: Prospects for Facultative Growth Habit

“…While all three genes merit additional investigation, and two or more of them could be acting in concert as a complex locus, HORVU1Hr1G012710 is the most obvious candidate, based on annotation. This gene encodes barley lipid transfer protein 101 (blt101), which is known to be induced by low temperatures (Brown et al, 2001) and may be involved in the differential WS of barley genotypes by slowing growth under low temperatures and increasing tolerance to water stress (Choi and Hwang, 2015). Choi and Hwang (2015) also showed that transgenic wheat overexpressing blt101 had greater LTT than the wild type.…”

“…This gene encodes barley lipid transfer protein 101 (blt101), which is known to be induced by low temperatures (Brown et al, 2001) and may be involved in the differential WS of barley genotypes by slowing growth under low temperatures and increasing tolerance to water stress (Choi and Hwang, 2015). Choi and Hwang (2015) also showed that transgenic wheat overexpressing blt101 had greater LTT than the wild type. HORVU1Hr1G012680 encodes a protein in the UDPglycosyltransferase superfamily.…”