Intra and Inter-specific Variability of Salt Tolerance Mechanisms in Diospyros Genus
Author
Gil-Muñoz, Francisco; Pérez-Pérez, Juan G.; Quinones, Ana; Naval, María M.; Badenes, María L.Date
2020Cita bibliográfica
Gil-Muñoz, F., Pérez-Pérez, J.G., Quiñones, A., Naval, M.M. and Badenes, M.L. (2020) Intra and Inter-specific Variability of Salt Tolerance Mechanisms in Diospyros Genus. Front. Plant Sci. 11:1132. doi: 10.3389/fpls.2020.01132Abstract
Saline stress is one of most important problems that agriculture must face in the context of
climate change. In the Mediterranean basin, one of the regions most affected, persimmon
production can be compromised by this effect, due to the limited availability of salt tolerant
rootstocks. Seedlings coming from four populations from the Diospyros genus have been
exposed to salt stress in order to identify salt tolerance genotypes within these
populations. Morphological, physiological, and transcriptomic approaches have
revealed different mechanisms of tolerance among the population studied. An HKT1-
like gene has been shown to have different root expression related to the salt tolerance
phenotypes among and within populations. Additionally, we have observed differences in
salt-responsive expression among PIP aquaporin genes. Genetic variability for salt
tolerance can be generated in Diospyros species through crossings and used for
overcome salt stress. Furthermore, differences in water use efficiency (WUE) have been
obtained between and within populations. The information gathered at transcriptomic and
physiological level demonstrated natural and heritable variability among Diospyros genus
which is the key for salt-tolerant rootstock breeding programs.