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SbCPP01 overexpression improves saline-alkali tolerance in Arabidopsis

Du Pin-Ting1,Zhou Wei1,Wang Zhen-Guo2,Li Yan2,Liu Xin-Yu1,Zhang Shi-Qi1,Wang Jin-Yue1,Bao Xue-Lian2,Zhou Ya-Xing1,*   

  1. 1 College of Agriculture, Inner Mongolia Minzu University, Tongliao 028000, Inner Mongolia, China; 2 Tongliao Academy of Agricultural and Animal Husbandry Sciences, Tongliao 028000, Inner Mongolia, China
  • Received:2026-04-30 Revised:2026-08-21 Accepted:2026-08-21 Published:2026-08-26
  • Supported by:
    This study was supported by the Inner Mongolia Natural Science Foundation (2025MS03084), the Inner Mongolia Science and Technology Plan Project (2025YFDZ0052), the Young Talents in Science and Technology Program of Institutions of Higher Education of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region (NJYT22052), and the Tongliao Science and Technology Plan Project (TL2025YF004).

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Abstract: The cysteine-rich polycomb-like protein (CPP) transcription factor plays a pivotal regulatory role in plant responses to stress conditions. Based on previous bioinformatics analysis of the CPP gene family in sorghum, combined with transcriptome data and RT-qPCR results, SbCPP01 was identified as a gene potentially involved in the response to saline-alkali stress. To verify the role of SbCPP01 in saline-alkali tolerance, we performed cloning and functional characterization of SbCPP01. The coding sequence of SbCPP01 was amplified via reverse transcription PCR, and an overexpression vector was constructed. The vector was subsequently introduced into Arabidopsis thaliana for functional assays. Under identical saline-alkali stress conditions, overexpression of SbCPP01 significantly improved the saline-alkali tolerance of transgenic Arabidopsis. Compared with wild-type plants, the transgenic lines showed higher germination rates, longer root lengths and greater fresh weight. Transgenic plants also exhibited higher activities of POD, SOD and CAT, along with increased contents of soluble protein, soluble sugar, starch and proline. By contrast, their levels of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), superoxide anion (O2?) and malondialdehyde (MDA) were lower than those of the wild type. These findings indicate that SbCPP01 enhances antioxidant enzyme activities and alleviates reactive oxygen species accumulation. After 7 days of stress treatment, phenotypic observations revealed that wild-type seedlings suffered leaf yellowing and wilting, while transgenic lines grew well. RT-qPCR analysis further demonstrated that the expression levels of stress-responsive genes, including AtSOS1, AtSOS3, AtP5CS1, AtCBL10, AtLEA3, AtNHX1, AtRD29A and AtNCED3, were markedly upregulated in transgenic plants under saline-alkali stress. Collectively, overexpression of SbCPP01 confers enhanced saline-alkali tolerance in Arabidopsis thaliana. As a promising candidate gene for molecular breeding for saline-alkali resistance, SbCPP01 provides a theoretical basis and technical support for the genetic improvement of stress tolerance in sorghum and other crops.

Key words: sorghum, SbCPP01 gene, saline-alkali stress, Arabidopsis thaliana, genetic transformation

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