Molecular and Cellular Biology Seminar | Too much salt destroys the dish: Plant salt tolerance, Nov. 28

The Molecular and Cellular Biology Seminar series (MCB7410) features Damilola Ayorinde discussing "Too much salt destroys the dish: Plant salt tolerance" on Nov. 28 at 3:30 PM in Porter Hall Room 104.

Ayorinde is a graduate student in the departments of Environmental and Plant Biology and Molecular and Cellular Biology at Ohio University.

Abstract : It is imperative to address the global challenge of securing sufficient water and land for food production, especially with the rising demand for plant-based products. However, a significant obstacle is the increasing salinity in soil, affecting over 6% of the world's land mass. Sustainable solutions demand comprehensive approaches, including rational water and soil management policies, the exploitation of natural genetic variation in crops, and the application of transgenic technologies for salt tolerance. The evolution of plant models, from glycophytes to halophytes, has significantly advanced our understanding of salt stress mechanisms, facilitating the development of strategies for improving salt tolerance in crops, as exemplified by ongoing research on Arabidopsis thaliana model. Over time, the three interrelated aspects required to establish salt tolerance have been researched. These include preventing or mitigating damage, restoring homeostasis in the stressful environment, and regulating growth. Recent investigations on transcription factor RAP2.6 in Arabidopsis, demonstrating its pivotal role in regulating ionic homeostasis to enhance salt stress tolerance, were highlighted by Song et al., 2023. Additionally, Li et al., 2020, identified glycogen synthase kinase 3 (GSK3)-like kinase BIN2, a molecular switch in the transition to robust growth after salt stress. Understanding salt tolerance mechanisms in the Eutrema salsugineum , a halophytic relative of Arabidopsis, has shed more light on the molecular pathways associated with salt tolerance in plants. These findings contribute to ongoing efforts to address global challenges in saline-affected soils, providing a foundation for further research and practical applications.

Key references

Song Q, Zhou M, Wang X, Brestic M, Liu Y, Yang X. RAP2.6 enhanced salt stress tolerance by reducing Na+ accumulation and stabilizing the electron transport in Arabidopsis thaliana. Plant Physiol Biochem. 2023;195:134-143. doi:10.1016/j.plaphy.2023.01.003. Li J, Zhou H, Zhang Y, Li Z, Yang Y, Guo Y. The GSK3-like Kinase BIN2 Is a Molecular Switch between the Salt Stress Response and Growth Recovery in Arabidopsis thaliana. Dev Cell. 2020;55(3):367-380.e6. doi:10.1016/j.devcel.2020.08.005.