Strigolactones positively regulate abscisic acid-dependent heat and cold tolerance in tomato

Abstract

Strigolactones are carotenoid-derived phytohormones that impact plant growth and development in diverse ways. However, the roles of strigolactones in the responses to temperature stresses are largely unknown. Here, we demonstrated that strigolactone biosynthesis is induced in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) by heat and cold stresses. Compromised strigolactone biosynthesis or signaling negatively affected heat and cold tolerance, while application of the synthetic strigolactone analog GR245DS enhanced heat and cold tolerance. Strigolactone-mediated heat and cold tolerance was associated with the induction of abscisic acid (ABA), heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) accumulation, C-REPEAT BINDING FACTOR 1 (CBF1) transcription, and antioxidant enzyme activity. Importantly, a deficiency in ABA biosynthesis compromised the GR245DS effects on heat and cold stresses and abolished the GR245DS-induced transcription of HSP70, CBF1, and antioxidant-related genes. These results support that strigolactones positively regulate tomato heat and cold tolerance and that they do so at least partially by the induction of CBFs and HSPs and the antioxidant response in an ABA-dependent manner.