Chrysanthemum CmHSFA4 gene positively regulates salt stress tolerance in transgenic chrysanthemum

Summary Salinity‐induced Na+ toxicity and oxidative stress hamper plant growth. Here, we showed that expression of the chrysanthemum CmHSFA4, a homologue of the heat‐shock factor AtHSFA4a, is inducible by salt and localizes to the nucleus. It is a transcription activator binding with HSE. Chrysanthemum overexpressing CmHSFA4 displayed enhanced salinity tolerance by limiting Na+ accumulation while maintaining K+ concentration, which is consistent with the up‐regulation of ion transporters CmSOS1 and CmHKT2. Additionally, the transgenic plants reduced H2O2 and O2∙− accumulation under salinity, which could be due to up‐regulation of ROS scavenger activities such as SOD, APX and CAT as well as CmHSP70, CmHSP90. Together, these results suggest that CmHSFA4 conferred salinity tolerance in chrysanthemum as a consequence of Na+/K+ ion and ROS homeostasis.