H+-pyrophosphatase from Salicornia europaea enhances tolerance to low phosphate under salinity in Arabidopsis

Abstract

Increasing soil salinity threatens crop productivity worldwide. High soil salinity is usually accompanied by the low availability of many mineral nutrients. Here, we investigated the potential role that the H+- PPase could play in optimizing P use efficiency under salinity in plants. Transgenic Arabidopsis plants overexpressing either SeVP1 or SeVP2 from Salicornia europaea outperformed the wild-types under low phosphate (Pi) as well as low Pi plus salt conditions. Our results suggested that H+-PPase could increase external Pi acquisition through promoting root development and upregulating phosphate transporters, thus to protect plants from Pi limiting stress. This study provides a potential strategy for improving crop yields challenged by the co-occurrence of abiotic stresses.