Highly boron deficiency-tolerant plants generated by enhanced expression of NIP5;1, a boric acid channel

Plant Cell Physiol. 2009 Jan;50(1):58-66. doi: 10.1093/pcp/pcn168. Epub 2008 Nov 17.

Abstract

Boron (B) is an essential element for plants, and B deficiency is a worldwide agricultural problem. In B-deficient areas, B is often supplied as fertilizer, but excess B can be toxic to both plants and animals. Generation of B deficiency-tolerant plants could reduce B fertilizer use. Improved fertility under B-limiting conditions in Arabidopsis thaliana by overexpression of BOR1, a B transporter, has been reported, but the root growth was not improved by the BOR1 overexpression. In this study, we report that enhanced expression of NIP5;1, a boric acid channel for efficient B uptake, resulted in improved root elongation under B-limiting conditions in A. thaliana. An NIP5;1 activation tag line, which has a T-DNA insertion with enhancer sequences near the NIP5;1 gene, showed improved root elongation under B limitation. We generated a construct which mimics the tag line: the cauliflower mosaic virus 35S RNA promoter was inserted at 1,357 bp upstream of the NIP5;1 transcription initiation site. Introduction of this construct into the nip5;1-1 mutant and the BOR1 overexpresser resulted in enhanced expression of NIP5;1 and improved root elongation under low B supply. Furthermore, one of the transgenic lines exhibited improved fertility and short-term B uptake. Our results demonstrate successful improvement of B deficiency tolerance and the potential of enhancing expression of a mineral nutrient channel gene to improve growth under nutrient-limiting conditions.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aquaporins / genetics
  • Aquaporins / metabolism*
  • Arabidopsis / genetics*
  • Arabidopsis / metabolism
  • Arabidopsis Proteins / genetics
  • Arabidopsis Proteins / metabolism*
  • Boric Acids / metabolism*
  • Boron / metabolism*
  • DNA, Bacterial / genetics
  • Enhancer Elements, Genetic
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Plant
  • Genes, Plant
  • Mutagenesis, Insertional
  • Plant Roots / genetics
  • Plant Roots / metabolism
  • Plants, Genetically Modified / genetics
  • Plants, Genetically Modified / metabolism
  • Promoter Regions, Genetic

Substances

  • Aquaporins
  • Arabidopsis Proteins
  • Boric Acids
  • DNA, Bacterial
  • NIP5;1 protein, Arabidopsis
  • T-DNA
  • Boron
  • boric acid