Expression of peanut Iron Regulated Transporter 1 in tobacco and rice plants confers improved iron nutrition

Iron (Fe) limitation is a widespread agricultural problem in calcareous soils and severely limits crop production. Iron Regulated Transporter 1 (IRT1) is a key component for Fe uptake from the soil in dicot plants. In this study, the peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) AhIRT1 was introduced into tobacco and rice plants using an Fe-deficiency-inducible artificial promoter. Induced expression of AhIRT1 in tobacco plants resulted in accumulation of Fe in young leaves under Fe deficient conditions. Even under Fe-excess conditions, the Fe concentration was also markedly enhanced, suggesting that the Fe status did not affect the uptake and translocation of Fe by AhIRT1 in the transgenic plants. Most importantly, the transgenic tobacco plants showed improved tolerance to Fe limitation in culture in two types of calcareous soils. Additionally, the induced expression of AhIRT1 in rice plants also resulted in high tolerance to low Fe availability in calcareous soils. •An Fe-deficiency-inducible promoter was used for introduction AhIRT1 in plants.•The transgenic tobacco showed high accumulation of Fe under Fe deficiency.•Induce expression of AhIRT1 in plants resulted in high tolerance in calcareous soils.•AhIRT1 tended to specifically uptake and translocate Fe in such transgenic plants.