PHT1;5 Repressed by ANT Mediates Pi Acquisition and Distribution under Low Pi and Salinity in Salt Cress

Abstract Salinity and phosphate (Pi) starvation are the most common abiotic stresses that threaten crop productivity. Salt cress (Eutrema salsugineum) displays good tolerance to both salinity and Pi limitation. Previously, we found several Phosphate Transporter (PHT) genes in salt cress upregulated under salinity. Here, EsPHT1;5 induced by both low Pi (LP) and salinity was further characterized. Overexpression of EsPHT1;5 in salt cress enhanced plant tolerance to LP and salinity, while the knock-down lines exhibited growth retardation. The analysis of phosphorus (P) content and shoot/root ratio of total P in EsPHT1;5-overexpressing salt cress seedlings and the knock-down lines as well as arsenate uptake assays suggested the role of EsPHT1;5 in Pi acquisition and root-shoot translocation under Pi limitation. In addition, overexpression of EsPHT1;5 driven by the native promoter in salt cress enhanced Pi mobilization from rosettes to siliques upon a long-term salt treatment. Particularly, the promoter of EsPHT1;5 outperformed that of AtPHT1;5 in driving gene expression under salinity. We further identified a transcription factor EsANT, which negatively regulated EsPHT1;5 expression and plant tolerance to LP and salinity. Taken together, EsPHT1;5 plays an integral role in Pi acquisition and distribution in plant response to LP and salt stress. Further, EsANT may be involved in the cross-talk between Pi starvation and salinity signaling pathways. This work provides further insight into the mechanism underlying high P use efficiency in salt cress in its natural habitat, and evidence for a link between Pi and salt signaling.