The bZIP53–IAA4 module inhibits adventitious root development in Populus

Development of adventitious roots in poplar is negatively regulated by the bZIP53–IAA4 module, which is responsive to salt stress. Abstract Adventitious roots (ARs) are important for some plants that depend on clonal propagation. In this study, we demonstrate that a salt-responsive gene module is involved in the negative regulation of AR development in poplar. In this module, the expression of bZIP53 is induced by salt stress and it encodes a transcription factor with transactivation activity. Overexpression or induced expression of bZIP53 in poplar lines resulted in inhibition of AR growth, while heterologous overexpression of bZIP53 in Arabidopsis resulted in a similar phenotype. Results from RNA-seq and RT-qPCR assays predicted IAA4-1 and IAA4-2 to be downstream genes that were regulated by bZIP53. Further investigation of protein–DNA interactions using yeast one-hybrid, electrophoretic mobility shift, dual luciferase reporter, and GUS co-expression assays also showed that IAA4-1/2 were the genes that were directly regulated by bZIP53. Induced-expression IAA4-1/2 transgenic poplar lines also showed inhibited AR growth. In addition, both poplar bZIP53 and IAA4-1/2 showed a response to salt stress. On the basis of these results, we conclude that the bZIP53–IAA4 module is involved in the negative regulation of AR development in poplar.