RPL10 promotes plant tolerance to drought and salt stress

PETRICH, J.; RAMOS, R.; CASATI, P.; SPAMPINATO, C.; FALCONE FERREYRA, M.L.

Congreso; XXXIV Reunión de la Sociedad Argentina de Fisiología Vegetal (RAFV); 2023

Ribosomal proteins are not only involved in translation, but also, in plant response to abiotic stress. We have previously demonstrated that RPL10A plays a role in UV-B radiation stress and in ABA-dependent responses, acting as a positive regulator. Therefore, we here aimed to investigate the contribution of RPL10A in conferring drought and salinity tolerance in Arabidopsis thaliana plants. First, we performed seed germination assays at 100 mM NaCl and observed that RPL10A-overexpressing plants (RPL10A-OEs) germinated later than wild type (WT) plants. However, the growth response of RPL10A-OE and WT plants to salt stress was inversely correlated with germination. At 21 days after sowing, RPL10A-OEs plants showed higher survival rates than WT plants (60% and 32%, respectively), with more leaves remaining green. Moreover, RPL10A-OEs exhibited less inhibition of the primary root elongation by salt stress, less decrease of fresh shoot and root weights per seedling, less electrolyte leakage and higher chlorophyll content respect to WT plants. In addition, RPL10A-OEs showed a better performance than WT plants under drought conditions. The addition of mannitol at the seedling stage caused a less relative inhibition of primary root elongation of RPL10A-OE compared to WT plants (50% versus 64% at six days after transfer to medium with mannitol). The withholding water of 21-days-old plants for seven days displayed a higher tolerance of RPL10A-OE lines (60% survival) compared to WT plants (17% survival). Other parameters such as proline levels and oxidative damage to membranes are now being determined. In conclusion, these results show that the delayed germination of RPL10A-OE may be considered as a protective strategy to ensure maximal survival under osmotic stress, thus suggesting an additional role of RPL10A in plant tolerance to abiotic stress.