A bamboo ‘PeSAPK4‐PeMYB99‐PeTIP4‐3’ regulatory model involved in water transport

Summary Water plays crucial roles in expeditious growth and osmotic stress of bamboo. Nevertheless, the molecular mechanism of water transport remains unclear. In this study, an aquaporin gene, PeTIP4‐3 , was identified through a joint analysis of root pressure and transcriptomic data in moso bamboo ( Phyllostachys edulis ). PeTIP4‐3 was highly expressed in shoots, especially in the vascular bundle sheath cells. Overexpression of PeTIP4‐3 could increase drought and salt tolerance in transgenic yeast and rice. A co‐expression pattern of PeSAPK4 , PeMYB99 and PeTIP4‐3 was revealed by WGCNA. PeMYB99 exhibited an ability to independently bind to and activate PeTIP4‐3 , which augmented tolerance to drought and salt stress. PeSAPK4 could interact with and phosphorylate PeMYB99 in vivo and in vitro , wherein they synergistically accelerated PeTIP4‐3 transcription. Overexpression of PeMYB99 and PeSAPK4 also conferred drought and salt tolerance in transgenic rice. Further ABA treatment analysis indicated that PeSAPK4 enhanced water transport in response to stress via ABA signaling. Collectively, an ABA‐mediated cascade of PeSAPK4‐PeMYB99‐ PeTIP4‐3 is proposed, which governs water transport in moso bamboo.