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The DUF668 gene performs a critical role in mitigating the impact of abiotic stress factors. In this study, we identified 30 DUF668 genes in a soybean genome, distributed across fifteen chromosomes. The phylogenetic analysis classified the DUF668 genes into three groups (group I, group II, and group III). Interestingly, gene structure analysis illustrated that several GmDUF668 genes were without introns. Furthermore, the subcellular localization results suggested that GmDUF668 proteins were present in the nucleus, mitochondria, cytoplasm, and plasma membrane. GmDUF668 promoters were analyzed in silico to gain insight into the presence of regulatory sequences for TFs binding. The expression profiling illustrated that GmDUF668 genes showed expression in leaves, roots, nodules, and flowers. To investigate their response to salt stress, we utilized the RNA sequencing data of GmDUF668 genes. The results unveiled that GmDUF668-8, GmDUF668-20, and GmDUF668-30 genes were upregulated against salt stress treatment. We further validated these findings using qRT-PCR analysis. These findings provide a scientific basis to explore the functions of GmDUF668 genes against different stress conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Low-quality water and soil salinization are increasingly becoming limiting factors for food production, including olive – a major fruit crop in several parts of the world. Identifying putative salinity-stress tolerance in olive would be helpful in the future development of new tolerant varieties. In this study, novel salinity-responsive biomarkers (SRBs) were characterized in the species, namely, monooxygenase 1 (OeMO1), cation calcium exchanger 1 (OeCCX1), salt tolerance protein (OeSTO), proteolipid membrane potential modulator (OePMP3), universal stress protein (OeUSP2), adaptor protein complex 4 medium mu4 subunit (OeAP-4), WRKY1 transcription factor (OeWRKY1) and potassium transporter 2 (OeKT2). Unique structural features were highlighted for encoded proteins as compared with other plant homologues. The expression of olive SRBs was investigated in leaves of young plantlets of two cultivars, 'Nabali' (moderately tolerant) and 'Picual' (tolerant). At 60 mM NaCl stress level, OeMO1, OeSTO, OePMP3, OeUSP2, OeAP-4 and OeWRKY1 were up-regulated in 'Nabali' as compared with 'Picual'. On the other hand, OeCCX1 and OeKT2 were up-regulated at three stress levels (30, 60 and 90 mM NaCl) in 'Picual' as compared to 'Nabali'. Salinity tolerance in olive presumably engages multiple sets of responsive genes triggered by different stress levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Production of common fig in Jordan has dropped more than 20-folds during the last five decades, due to several challenges, including biotic and abiotic stresses. The present study was conducted to asses a new protocol of shoot and callus development from fig apical buds. Explants of three local genotypes (Khdari, Mwazi and Zraki) were collected and grown in three culture establishment media: Murashige and Skoog (MS), Olive Medium (OM) and Woody Plant Medium (WPM). Two months later, shoot growth and callus development were measured, followed by transplanting into subculturing medium in test tubes with MS media. After additional two months, the same parameters were measured again. The results of the culture establishment showed that the highest shoot growth was obtained with OM and the highest callus development was obtained with WPM. On the other hand, the subculturing in MS medium showed prominent carryover effect of the first inoculation media, where the highest shoot growth was obtained in cultures transplanted from OM and the highest callus development was obtained in cultures transplanted from WPM. The present study delivers an improved protocol for establishment of common fig by tissue culture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Different abiotic stresses recruit dedicated signaling and regulatory genes in plants. Genome-wide stress-specific biomarkers were investigated in tomatoes. Three major abiotic stresses were compared: drought, heat, and salinity. For each stress type, 2 different tomato lines were included: susceptible and tolerant. Gene expression was examined by hybridizing to an available tomato micro array. Several stress responsive genes were upregulated in tolerant as well as in susceptible lines for each stress. Comparative analysis of gene expression in response to stress (drought, heat, or salinity) resolved a number of common biomarkers, while other groups of putative biomarkers were associated with each abiotic stress. MYB transcription factors, SAUR family proteins, and NAC domain proteins were among the highly upregulated genes under drought, while both proteinase inhibitors and heat shock proteins were prominent in the heat-tolerant line. For salinity stress, the expression of phosphate starvation-induced proteins was observed. Putative abiotic stress biomarkers can be utilized in breeding programs to improve the selection process and to aid in gene stacking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dehydrins are a group of proteins whose expression is associated with plant abiotic stresses and seed maturation. The full AhDHN dehydrin gene from Mediterranean saltbush (Atriplex halimus) was cloned and characterized. The AhDHN amino acid sequence revealed 1 S-segment, 3 K-segments (K1, K2, K3), and a transmembrane pore-lining signature. It is a 26.77-kDa protein with a predicted isoelectric point of 6.14. Phylogenetic analysis of the AhDHN protein clustered it with other proteins from related plants belonging to the family Amaranthaceae (Atriplex canescens, Spinacia oleracea, Suaeda salsa, and Suaeda glauca). The AhDHN protein sequence revealed a deletion that was 102 amino acids long compared to AcDHN from A. canescens. The expression level of the AhDHN gene was found to be enhanced by salinity stress in Mediterranean saltbush roots but not in shoots. The novel AhDHN gene can be potentially utilized in transformation of other plants to improve tolerance to salinity stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]