GmSTK12 Participates in Salt Stress Resistance in Soybean

Soybean (Glycine max (Linn.) Merr.) is a widely-cultivated crop, the yield of which markedly affected by adverse environmental conditions. Soil salinization, in particular, has led to degradation agricultural land, resulting poor plant growth and decreased crop yields. In plants, serine/threonine protein kinases (STKs) are involved response variety abiotic stresses. Our previous study identified transcription factor (GmWRKY20) stress resistance, can directly regulate expression GmSTK12. Here, we investigated effect stress-responsive gene GmSTK12 (Glyma.12g198200), encodes kinase, on soybean salt tolerance. Overall, overexpression (GmSTK12-OE) resulted increased Under stress, GmSTK12-OE soybeans exhibited significantly chlorophyll proline (PRO) contents; relative electrical conductivity; malondialdehyde (MDA) superoxide anion (O2−) activities antioxidant enzymes catalase (CAT), dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD). The nitroblue tetrazolium chloride (NBT) staining experiment further confirmed reduced accumulation reactive oxygen species (ROS) leaves. We determined Na+ K+ contents leaves roots found that content Na+/K+ ratio were lower than those WT (williams82) soybeans. Furthermore, quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) analysis revealed three SOS pathway genes (GmSOS1, GmSOS2a, GmSOS2b) was upregulated under stress. Taken together, results indicate mechanism