A dirigent family protein confers variation of Casparian strip thickness and salt tolerance in maize

Yanyan Wang, Yibo Cao, Xiaoyan Liang, Junhong Zhuang, Xiangfeng Wang, Feng Qin and Caifu Jiang ()
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Yanyan Wang: China Agricultural University
Yibo Cao: China Agricultural University
Xiaoyan Liang: China Agricultural University
Junhong Zhuang: China Agricultural University
Xiangfeng Wang: China Agricultural University
Feng Qin: China Agricultural University
Caifu Jiang: China Agricultural University

Nature Communications, 2022, vol. 13, issue 1, 1-14

Abstract: Abstract Plant salt-stress response involves complex physiological processes. Previous studies have shown that some factors promote salt tolerance only under high transpiring condition, thus mediating transpiration-dependent salt tolerance (TDST). However, the mechanism underlying crop TDST remains largely unknown. Here, we report that ZmSTL1 (Salt-Tolerant Locus 1) confers natural variation of TDST in maize. ZmSTL1 encodes a dirigent protein (termed ZmESBL) localized to the Casparian strip (CS) domain. Mutants lacking ZmESBL display impaired lignin deposition at endodermal CS domain which leads to a defective CS barrier. Under salt condition, mutation of ZmESBL increases the apoplastic transport of Na+ across the endodermis, and then increases the root-to-shoot delivery of Na+ via transpiration flow, thereby leading to a transpiration-dependent salt hypersensitivity. Moreover, we show that the ortholog of ZmESBL also mediates CS development and TDST in Arabidopsis. Our study suggests that modification of CS barrier may provide an approach for developing salt-tolerant crops.

Date: 2022
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-29809-0

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