Overexpression of Nicotiana tabacum PIP1;3 enhances root aeration and oxygen metabolism in canola (Brassica napus) plants exposed to root hypoxia

• Published in: Plant physiology and biochemistry 2024-11, Vol.216, p.109122, Article 109122
• Main Authors: Liu, Mengmeng, Khan, Shanjida, Zwiazek, Janusz J.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aquaporins; Aquaporins - genetics; Aquaporins - metabolism; Brassica napus; Brassica napus - genetics; Brassica napus - metabolism; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; Growth; Hypoxia; Nicotiana - genetics; Nicotiana - metabolism; Oxygen - metabolism; Oxygen transport; Physiology; Plant Proteins - genetics; Plant Proteins - metabolism; Plant Roots - metabolism; Plants, Genetically Modified - metabolism; Respiration
• ISSN: 0981-9428; 1873-2690; 1873-2690
• DOI: 10.1016/j.plaphy.2024.109122

High mortality and reduced growth due to root hypoxia are commonly observed in plants impacted by flooding or soil compaction. Since earlier research suggested that Nicotiana tabacum PIP1;3 may facilitate cell-to-cell oxygen transport, we overexpressed NtPIP1;3 in canola (Brassica napus) and studied the effects on growth, physiological parameters, root oxygen concentrations, and energy metabolism in plants subjected to waterlogging. Compared with wild-type plants (WT), the waterlogged plants overexpressing NtPIP1;3 (OE) maintained higher dry biomass, gas exchange, root hydraulic conductivity, root oxygen concentrations, leaf water potentials, root respiration rates, and root ATP concentrations. Metabolic profiling revealed that overexpressing plants responded to root hypoxia by altering the glycolysis, pyruvate metabolism, and TCA cycle in roots. Moreover, the differences in expression patterns of RAP2.12, RAP2.2, PCO1, and PCO2 in WT and OE canola plants exposed to root hypoxia point to increased oxygen supply to OE roots, which was confirmed by direct measurements of root O2 concentrations. Our results demonstrate that the overexpression of NtPIP1;3 affected plant responses to hypoxia by enhancing their aerobic metabolism and strengthened the notion that some of the plant aquaporins may facilitate oxygen transport. •We overexpressed tobacco NtPIP1;3 aquaporin in canola and studied the effects on waterlogging tolerance and root oxygen concentrations.•Compared with wild-type plants, overexpression plants maintained higher root oxygen and ATP concentrations, and showed greater resistance to waterlogging.•Metabolic profiling confirmed that overexpression plants maintained higher levels of aerobic metabolism compared with wild-type plants.•Results strengthen the notion that some of the plant aquaporins may facilitate oxygen transport.