MhNCED3 in Malus hupehensis Rehd. induces NO generation under osmotic stress by regulating ABA accumulation

Abscisic acid (ABA) biosynthesis has been widely characterized in plants, whereas the effects of ABA biosynthesis on nitric oxide (NO) generation in osmotic stress are less well understood. In this study, Malus hupehensis Rehd. 9-cis-epoxycarotenoid dioxygenase gene (MhNCED3) which is the key gene in ABA biosynthesis was transformed into wild type (WT) and 129B08/nced3 mutant (AtNCED3 deficient), respectively, and two transgenic Arabidopsis lines were obtained. The transgenic Arabidopsis lines displayed higher endogenous ABA content, NO generation rate, AtNIA1 transcript level and nitrate reductase (NR) activity than WT and 129B08/nced3 mutant. Ectopic expression of MhNCED3 reduced the electrolyte leakage and relieved Arabidopsis damage caused by 20% PEG on the growth and development. The ABA content, NO generation rate, AtNIA1 expression and NR activity increased after 20% PEG treatment, importantly, their increases amplitude relative to that in control were higher in two transgenic lines. Additionally, during the treatment for the four genotype Arabidopsis, the time of ABA contents reaching the highest peak was earlier than the time of NO generation, AtNIA1 expression and NR activity reaching their highest peak. These results show that NCED gene indirectly induced endogenous NO generation in osmotic-stressed Arabidopsis partially contributing to the up-regulation of AtNIA1 expression and NR activity.