Work

A conserved primary salt tolerance mechanism mediated by HKT transporters: a mechanism for sodium exclusion and maintenance of high K + /Na + ratio in leaves during salinity stress

Year: 2009

Type: review

Abstract: Increasing soil salinity is a serious threat to agricultural productions worldwide in the 21st century. Several essential Na(+) transporters such as AtNHX1 and AtSOS1 function in Na(+) tolerance under salinity stress in plants. Recently, evidence for a new primary salt tolerance mechanism has been reported, which is mediated by a class of HKT transporters both in dicots such as Arabidopsis and monocot crops such as rice and wheat. Here we present a review on vital physiological functions of HKT transporters including AtHKT1;1 and OsHKT1;5 in preventing shoot Na(+) over-accumulation by mediating Na(+) exclusion from xylem vessels in the presence of a large amount of Na(+) thereby protecting leaves from salinity stress. Findings of the HKT2 transporter sub-family are also updated in this review. Subjects regarding function and regulation of HKT transporters, which need to be elucidated in future research, are discussed.

Source: Plant Cell & Environment

DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-3040.2009.02056.x

Authors: FELIX HAUSER, TOMOAKI HORIE

Institutions: University of California San Diego, Institute of Plant Science and Resources, Okayama University

Language: English

Topic: Plant Stress Responses and Tolerance

Subfield: Plant Science

Field: Agricultural and Biological Sciences

Domain: Life Sciences

Open Access status: bronze

Funders: U.S. Department of Energy, University of California, San Diego

Awards: G222768804, MOLECULAR AND GENETIC BASIS OF SODIUM/POTASSIUM TRANSPORT AND DISTRIBUTION IN PLANTS, MOLECULAR AND GENETIC BASIS OF SODIUM/POTASSIUM TRANSPORT AND DISTRIBUTION IN PLANTS