MdATG18a overexpression improves basal thermotolerance in transgenic apple by decreasing damage to chloroplasts.

ABSTRACT: High temperature is an abiotic stress factor that threatens plant growth and development. Autophagy in response to heat stress involves the selective removal of heat-induced protein complexes. Previously, we showed that a crucial autophagy protein from apple, MdATG18a, has a positive effect on drought tolerance. In the present study, we treated transgenic apple (Malus domestica) plants overexpressing MdATG18a with high temperature and found that autophagy protected them from heat stress. Overexpression of MdATG18a in apple enhanced antioxidase activity and contributed to the production of increased beneficial antioxidants under heat stress. Transgenic apple plants exhibited higher photosynthetic capacity, as shown by the rate of CO₂ assimilation, the maximum

SUBMITTER: Huo L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7049305 | biostudies-literature | 2020

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature