ERF54 regulates cold tolerance in Rosa multiflora through DREB/COR signalling pathways.

Area of Science:

• Plant Biology
• Molecular Genetics
• Stress Physiology

Background:

• Ethylene-responsive factors (ERFs) are crucial regulators of plant development and stress responses.
• The specific roles of many ERFs in cold stress tolerance remain largely uncharacterized.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the function of RmERF54 in cold stress response in Rosa multiflora.
• To elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying RmERF54-mediated cold tolerance.

Main Methods:

• Overexpression and virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) of RmERF54 in transgenic tobacco and rose somatic embryos.
• Transcriptome analysis to identify downstream targets.
• Electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA) to confirm promoter binding.
• Measurement of antioxidant enzyme activities and reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels.

Main Results:

• Overexpression of RmERF54 significantly enhanced cold resistance in transgenic plants.
• VIGS-mediated silencing of RmERF54 increased cold susceptibility.
• RmERF54 directly activated the expression of cold-responsive genes, including RmPODP7 and RmCOR47.
• RmERF54 overexpression led to increased antioxidant enzyme activity and reduced ROS levels.

Conclusions:

• RmERF54 plays a vital role in conferring cold tolerance in plants.
• It functions as a nuclear transcription factor that regulates a network of stress-responsive genes and antioxidant pathways.
• RmERF54 is a downstream target of RmDREB1E, providing insights into cold stress signaling cascades.