Inoculation With Bacillus Enhances the Drought Tolerance Function of PlGLK1 in Paeonia lactiflora Pall
Ming Kan1,2, Xuening Kang1,2, Shixin Guan1,2
1College of Forestry, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, China.
Physiologia Plantarum
|April 20, 2026
Summary
Golden2-like (GLK) transcription factors enhance plant drought tolerance. In Paeonia lactiflora, PlGLK1 improves dehydration resistance by regulating stomatal closure and reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging, especially after Bacillus inoculation.
Area of Science:
- Plant Biology
- Molecular Genetics
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Golden2-like (GLK) transcription factors are key regulators of plant drought tolerance, influencing photosynthesis, stomatal movement, and antioxidant defense.
- The specific roles of GLK transcription factors in Paeonia lactiflora, particularly concerning Bacillus interactions and drought stress, are not well understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To isolate and characterize the GLK transcription factor PlGLK1 from Paeonia lactiflora.
- To investigate the function of PlGLK1 in response to Bacillus and drought stress.
- To elucidate the molecular mechanisms by which PlGLK1 confers dehydration tolerance.
Main Methods:
- Gene isolation and characterization of PlGLK1 from Paeonia lactiflora.
- Functional analysis using overexpression and Virus-Induced Gene Silencing (VIGS) in herbaceous peony.
- Biochemical assays to measure antioxidant enzyme activities (CAT, POD, SOD), proline, soluble sugar, H2O2, O2-, and MDA levels.
- Molecular techniques including Yeast one-hybrid (Y1H), Dual-Luciferase Reporter (Dual-LUC), and electrophoretic mobility shift assays (EMSA).
Main Results:
- PlGLK1 is a nuclear-localized protein with transcriptional activation activity, specifically induced by Bacillus and drought stress.
- Overexpression of PlGLK1 enhanced drought tolerance by increasing antioxidant enzyme activities, proline and soluble sugar content, and promoting wider stomatal aperture.
- VIGS lines exhibited opposite trends, indicating PlGLK1's crucial role in stress response.
- PlGLK1 was found to modulate the expression of the dehydration stress-responsive gene PlWRKY40.
Conclusions:
- PlGLK1 plays a significant role in enhancing dehydration stress tolerance in Paeonia lactiflora.
- Bacillus-induced PlGLK1 contributes to drought resistance through improved stomatal regulation and enhanced reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging capacity.
- PlGLK1 interacts with PlWRKY40, suggesting a regulatory pathway for drought stress response in herbaceous peony.
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