bZIP72 promotes submerged rice seed germination and coleoptile elongation by activating ADH1
Shuang Wang +, Wanning Liu +, Yong He, Tosin Victor Adegoke , Jiezheng Ying , Xiaohong Tong, Zhiyong Li, Liqun Tang, Huimei Wang , Jian Zhang *, Zhihong Tian *, Yifeng Wang *
Plant Physiology and Biochemistry
10.1016/j.plaphy.2021.11.005；
Abstract
Seed germination and coleoptile elongation in response to flooding stress is an important trait for the direct
seeding of rice. However, the genes regulating this process and the underlying mechanisms are little understood.
In this study, bZIP72 was identified as a positive regulator of seed germination under submergence. Transcription
of bZIP72 was submergence induced. Over-expression of bZIP72 enhanced submerged seed germination and
coleoptile elongation, while bzip72 mutants exhibited the opposite tendency. Using biochemical interaction
assays, we showed that bZIP72 directly binds to the promoter of alcohol dehydrogenase 1 (ADH1), enhances its
activity, and subsequently produces more NAD+, NADH and ATP involved in the alcoholic fermentation and
glycolysis pathway, ultimately providing necessary energy reserves thus conferring tolerance to submergence. In
summary, this research provides novel insights into bZIP72 participation in submerged rice seed germination and
coleoptile elongation.