Abscisic acid (ABA) is an important hormone for seed development and germination whose physiological action is modulated by its endogenous levels. Cleavage of carotenoid precursors by 9-cis epoxycarotenoid dioxygenase (NCED) and inactivation of ABA by ABA 8′-hydroxylase (CYP707A) are key regulatory metabolic steps. In Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana), both enzymes are encoded by multigene families, having distinctive expression patterns. To evaluate the genome-wide impact of ABA deficiency in developing seeds at the maturation stage when dormancy is induced, we used a nced2569 quadruple mutant in which ABA deficiency is mostly restricted to seeds, thus limiting the impact of maternal defects on seed physiology. ABA content was very low in nced2569 seeds, similar to the severe mutant aba2; unexpectedly, ABA Glc ester was detected in aba2 seeds, suggesting the existence of an alternative metabolic route. Hormone content in nced2569 seeds compared with nced259 and wild type strongly suggested that specific expression of NCED6 in the endosperm is mainly responsible for ABA production. In accordance, transcriptome analyses revealed broad similarities in gene expression between nced2569 and either wild-type or nced259 developing seeds. Gene ontology enrichments revealed a large spectrum of ABA activation targets involved in reserve storage and desiccation tolerance, and repression of photosynthesis and cell cycle. Proteome and metabolome profiles in dry nced2569 seeds, compared with wild-type and cyp707a1a2 seeds, also highlighted an inhibitory role of ABA on remobilization of reserves, reactive oxygen species production, and protein oxidation. Down-regulation of these oxidative processes by ABA may have an essential role in dormancy control.

Active membrane transport of plant hormones and their related compounds is an essential process that determines the distribution of the compounds within plant tissues and, hence, regulates various physiological events. Here, we report that the Arabidopsis NITRATE TRANSPORTER 1/PEPTIDE TRANSPORTER FAMILY 7.3 (NPF7.3) protein functions as a transporter of indole-3-butyric acid (IBA), a precursor of the major endogenous auxin indole-3-acetic acid (IAA). When expressed in yeast, NPF7.3 mediated cellular IBA uptake. Loss-of-function npf7.3 mutants showed defective root gravitropism with reduced IBA levels and auxin responses. Nevertheless, the phenotype was restored by exogenous application of IAA but not by IBA treatment. NPF7.3 was expressed in pericycle cells and the root tip region including root cap cells of primary roots where the IBA-to-IAA conversion occurs. Our findings indicate that NPF7.3-mediated IBA uptake into specific cells is required for the generation of appropriate auxin gradients within root tissues. Significance Plant roots grow toward gravity. The phenomenon is known as “root gravitropism” as early described by Charles Darwin, and it has been well established that the plant hormone auxin plays a central role in this response. The major endogenous auxin, indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), is mainly synthesized from tryptophan via indole-3-pyruvic acid, whereas indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) is a minor precursor of IAA. Previous studies have shown that IAA derived from IBA plays a specific role in regulating lateral root development. However, in the present study we demonstrate through the identification and characterization of IBA transporter NPF7.3/NRT1.5 that IAA synthesized from IBA regulates root gravitropism.

The plant hormone abscisic acid (ABA) is actively synthesized in vascular tissues and transported to guard cells to promote stomatal closure. Although several transmembrane ABA transporters have been identified, how the movement of ABA within plants is regulated is not fully understood. In this study, we determined that Arabidopsis NPF4.6, previously identified as an ABA transporter expressed in vascular tissues, is also present in guard cells and positively regulates stomatal closure in leaves. We also found that mutants defective in NPF5.1 had a higher leaf surface temperature compared to the wild type. Additionally, NPF5.1 mediated cellular ABA uptake when expressed in a heterologous yeast system. Promoter activities of NPF5.1 were detected in several leaf cell types. Taken together, these observations indicate that NPF5.1 negatively regulates stomatal closure by regulating the amount of ABA that can be transported from vascular tissues to guard cells.

Gravitropism refers to the growth or movement of plants that is influenced by gravity. Roots exhibit positive gravitropism, and the root cap is thought to be the gravity-sensing site. In some plants, the root cap requires light irradiation for positive gravitropic responses. However, the mechanisms regulating this phenomenon are unknown. We herein report that maize roots exposed to white light continuously for ≥1–2h show increased indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) levels in the root tips, especially in the transition zone (1–3mm from the tip). Treatment with IAA biosynthesis inhibitors yucasin and l-kynurenine prevented any increases in IAA content and root curvature under light conditions. Analyses of the incorporation of a stable isotope label from tryptophan into IAA revealed that some of the IAA in roots was synthesized in the root apex. Furthermore, Zmvt2 and Zmyuc gene transcripts were detected in the root apex. One of the Zmyuc genes (ZM2G141383) was up-regulated by light irradiation in the 0–1mm tip region. Our findings suggest that IAA accumulation in the transition zone is due to light-induced activation of Zmyuc gene expression in the 0–1mm root apex region. Light-induced changes in IAA levels and distributions mediate the maize root gravitropic U-turn.

Plant roots play important roles in absorbing water and nutrients, and in tolerance against environmental stresses. Previously, we identified a rice root‐specific pathogenesis‐related protein (RSOsPR10) induced by drought, salt, and wounding. RSOsPR10 expression is strongly induced by jasmonate (JA)/ethylene (ET), but suppressed by salicylic acid (SA). Here, we analyzed the promoter activity of RSOsPR10. Analyses of transgenic rice lines harboring different‐length promoter::β‐glucuronidase (GUS) constructs showed that the 3‐kb promoter region is indispensable for JA/ET induction, SA repression, and root‐specific expression. In the JA‐treated 3K‐promoter::GUS line, GUS activity was mainly observed at lateral root primordia. Transient expression in roots using a dual luciferase (LUC) assay with different‐length promoter::LUC constructs demonstrated that the novel transcription factor OsERF87 induced 3K‐promoter::LUC expression through binding to GCC‐cis elements. In contrast, the SA‐inducible OsWRKY76 transcription factor strongly repressed the JA‐inducible and OsERF87‐dependent expression of RSOsPR10. RSOsPR10 was expressed at lower levels in OsWRKY76‐overexpressing rice, but at higher levels in OsWRKY76‐knockout rice, compared with wild type. These results show that two transcription factors, OsERF87 and OsWRKY76, antagonistically regulate RSOsPR10 expression through binding to the same promoter. This mechanism represents a fine‐tuning system to sense the balance between JA/ET and SA signaling in plants under environmental stress.